Five ways nature nurtures us. And our relationships.
- Mallika Verma
- Jun 5, 2021
- 2 min read
“I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” - Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
A research study published in 2019 suggests that spending two hours a week in nature, (regardless of whether it is all together or spread across several days) has a significant effect on (self-reported) good health and wellbeing.
So, what about the influence nature has on the quality of our relationships and our ability to interact positively with others?
The quiet calm of nature helps us unwind and relax; feeling physiologically calm enables us to listen more empathically, as opposed to when feeling anxious or angry.
Nature orients us to being more caring and compassionate, as we learn how to attend to something outside of ourselves.
Nature teaches us the virtue of patience; the more we can slow down and stay with difficult feelings or experiences, the more likely we are to be kind and thoughtful in our relationships.
Nature offers social spaces that foster connections. Last year when living alone during the pandemic, I found daily comfort in feeding the birds and taking long walks in a local park.
Our relationship with nature, much like with other people, is reciprocal; just as we turn towards nature for solace and fulfilment, much the same way, we need to be the ones that cherish and heal the environment too. Unless we start to recognise the impact nature has on our lives, it is likely that we will continue to ignore it.
You could start today; take a moment to connect with nature (tend to a house plant or watch the sunset) and notice the impact it has on your mental, emotional and relational wellbeing.
About the Author: Mallika Verma
Mallika Verma is a psychologist, and couples and family therapist. She has previously worked across a range of public and private healthcare settings in India and the UK. She now practices privately in Mumbai and Delhi. Learn more at: www.mallikaverma.com or get in touch with her on: mallikavermatherapy@gmail.com.
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