What’s the impact of nature on our mental health?

Humanity and nature are intricately intertwined…and here’s how

Imagine a moment in which you felt infinite — walking in the garden, the whiff of fresh breeze tickling your ears and the merry chirping of the birds filling your heart with ecstasy and the golden rays of sun falling on your face. All the worries and tiredness of your hectic city life melt away. Don’t you think that nature is the elixir of life?

Indeed, it is.

Nature is the cradle of humanity. We are nothing but its amalgamation. Such is the kindness of nature that, what we give to it, it returns to us manifold. Everything that we require, from the food that we eat, to the paper that we read, the energy we consume, are all derived from nature.

What does it mean to be human?

Let us ask ourselves a very simple question. What does it mean to be human ?How are the homo sapiens different from the remaining 8.7 million species which share the planet with us?

Being human means being imperfect, yet beautiful, being kind, vulnerable & emotional, yet strong and compassionate. It means being ambitious, yet patient and humble.

We are already humans, aren’t we? Yes, but biologically being a human does not essentially make us a human by traits. One can only be called human if she has imbibed nature into her being.

Since the beginning of time, the vibrancy of nature has rejuvenated and revitalized the human soul. Nature keeps us grounded and connected to our core.

Nature is..

Nature is the elixir of life. All that we need to survive is provided by it.

Nature is immensely patient. An acorn grows into a mighty oak tree over several years. Seasons change at their own pace. Even a small plant can create a positive aura in a room. Nature Deprivation is directly associated with depression and loss of empathy.. This is why astronauts returning from long stays at the International Space Station are closely monitored to assess their mental health.

Nature is divine, and man needs to explore and cherish it. As rightly quoted by William Wordsworth -

“For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.”

Exposure to nature has a humanizing effect. It gives us a sense of serenity. We retreat to nature when stressed. It helps us cope with pain and anxiety. Scientific studies conducted by the University of Minnesota show that when we view scenes of nature, the parts of our brain associated with empathy and love light up. But when we view urban scenes, parts of the brain associated with fear and anxiety are activated. For those who doubt the power of nature, even a small plant in a room or virtual scenes of nature have been found to provide psychological benefits.

Man is rushing in the heat of hope, to acquire more and more. But this ambition will be the death of us. Delicate activities like butterfly chasing and star gazing are a thing of the past. They have been trampled under the careless foot of urbanization. Man is recklessly slaying green forests to erect concrete jungles. This needs to end.

Our relationship with nature is not a one-way street. It has the capacity to withstand exploitation, but there is a limit. And man has crossed that limit by a lot.

Harmony of nature is essential for the well-being of mankind. One cannot exist without the other. Since nature makes us human, it is our duty to live up to humanity. We need to protect nature, for its sake and our own. Because if we don’t love nature, we are not true humanists. We need to regain our humanity, in order to save it.