Photo by Helminadia Randford
The history of humankind is impossible to
understand, or even validate, without acknowledging the evolution of man in the
natural settings. Since the beginning of
time our ancestors relied on nature to provide them with physical
sustainability, spiritual awareness and a holistic connection. The direct connection
which humans and nature have shared for centuries can’t be ignored, but should
help us reevaluate the benefits of it while living in a world so embedded in
technology.
The modern world has been enriched by the
technological advancement of global connectivity, managing to connect billions
of people around the world with the simple click of a button. This process, which enables us to view a virtual
tour of the Grand Canyon while chatting on Skype with a friend, has
impoverished the distinct benefits deriving from Nature Connectedness.
But what is Nature Connectedness?
It is the way individuals connect with, incorporate
and understand nature as part of their identity. It is the understanding if its cycles,
seasons, sustainability, sensitivities and strengths, which form the backbone
on which emotional connection, creativity and inner awareness build upon.
During my research on Nature
Connectedness, I came across a quote from 18th Century poet and
writer, Samuel Johnson:
“Deviation from nature is
deviation from happiness.”
Is this true? I asked myself. Does a connection with nature truly create happiness?
The article The Relationship between nature connectedness and happiness: a
meta-analysis, published for Frontiers Psychology and written by Colin A.
Capaldi, Raelyne L. Dopo and John M. Zelenski, describes that “contact with
nature can be beneficial, for example leading to improvements in mood,
cognition, and health.” Several studies done
by professionals validate these benefits.
Ecopsychologists say that wholesome
connection with nature show an increase of peace, positive attitude and a way
to see interconnectedness of all things.
When individuals immerse themselves in the natural world they can begin
to understand patterns of life, engaging in positive life styles and adjusting
their relationship with the environment and fellow humans.
Our children are learning about nature in
schoolbooks, but spending less time outdoors and more time on the
computer. One can easily understand the
difference between learning about
nature and living in nature. I’ve witnessed first hand how my senses and
body responded to the physical rhythms of nature, from the chirping of birds,
swooshing of the wind through a canopy of knotted trees, and the array of
colors presented during a hike.
In the book Psychology of Sustainable Development by P.W. Schmuck and W.P. Schulz,
Schultz identifies three Nature Connectedness components: cognitive, affective
and behavioral. The cognitive component
is how integrated one feels with nature; the affective component is the
individual’s sense of care of nature; and the behavioral component is the
commitment to protect the natural environment. It’s easy to see how these three components
not only teach us how to be in harmony with nature, but also transcend into the
way we connect with other humans.
It is such connection with nature that
teaches us how to relate to others. It
was not only normal but also imperative for early societies to depend on the
natural world. This forced them to work
together and by doing so it created an everlasting bond that eventually forged
customs, mores, spiritual rituals and an array of beliefs. I say everlasting
because I believe that as human beings we still retain that inner instinct to
connect with others in a more personal, meaningful way.
Mind Key is the bridge between the
natural world and everyone it encompasses (artists, spiritualists, writers and
anyone who understands the value of human connectedness). Mind Key strives to connect that inner
awareness with the beauty of nature and everything it teaches. As human beings we need to understand the
value of nature and how it is detrimental to our creativity and overall being
to neglect a bond that has existed since the beginning of time.
This is so true, Tamara. I love going for long walks or hikes (not that I make time for it as often as I should) and disconnecting from all of this helpful technology. It feels nice.
ReplyDeleteIt does, Charla. It's almost as if we receive a free dose of medicine to heal us from whatever is burdening us. I also do not make a bigger effort to be outdoors, but I'm hoping to make more time for it.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true! You would both enjoy "Last Child in the Woods," which talks about "nature deficit disorder." We also learned about forest bathing - a Japanese practice I believe. Scientific proof that gathering in the forest energies has healing properties. Not that we needed science to prove that... but still
ReplyDelete