“We often forget that WE ARE NATURE. Nature is not something separate from us. So when we say that we have lost our connection to nature, we’ve lost our connection to ourselves.”
Andy Goldsworthy, Environmental Artist
On reuniting with our better halves: Nature
Have you ever wondered why the most memorable classes were those that were taught under a tree in the playground? Why P.T. class was our favourite time of the school day even if we hated exercising? And why the wind always leaves us smiling, as if it grew hands and stretched our lips, asking ‘Why so serious?’
If you take a minute to wonder why this is so (as we often do), you’ll notice that the common thread here is the happiness we feel when we connect with nature.
Even as adults, we continue to reach out to the natural world in little ways – from rolling down the window to let the breeze wash away our worries, to going out for a breath of fresh air whenever our frustrations start to wear us down.
And especially now, when we need it the most, nature gives respite to our travel deficient minds – all we have to do is gaze out of our windows to watch the trees swaying in the wind as we sip mugs of hot tea.
The way nature makes us feel is best described by the biophilia hypothesis, coined by Edward Wilson, American biologist, naturalist, and writer. The theory states that we have a natural tendency to seek out nature and other forms of life. Time and again, this hypothesis has been proved by studying the effects of nature on the brain.
Feeling a part of nature has been shown to significantly correlate with life satisfaction, vitality, meaningfulness, happiness, mindfulness, and lower cognitive anxiety.”
says Dr. Richardson, Head of Psychology at the University of Derby in an interview with BBC.
A new perspective on self-care, with nature in mind
It’s no coincidence that what harms nature also harms us, and vice-versa. Just as the trees growing alongside the pavements of our busy cities do not flourish as well as they would in a forest, we humans don’t thrive as well in the concrete jungles we’ve created, leaving us constantly craving the natural home we grew up in. Which is why there is a dire need for finding a balance, where both nature and people can thrive together.
The toxicity of modern civilisation inevitably ends up in our food cycle, water, and in the products we use. So the ‘self-care’ products that we love might have ill effects on us, as well as on nature.
You may think “how can I, a mere individual, make a difference when a thousand others won’t stop?” We’re saying that you can, no matter how small the difference.
When you break it down, a sustainable lifestyle is simply about making better choices for yourself and for the environment. Start by taking stock of your own lifestyle and make those tiny, human-sized steps toward change for the better in your own life. Little steps taken together create paths toward a better tomorrow for all of us.
So the next time you think about investing in self-care, take a little time to learn about the impact that the products you choose have on you and on your natural surroundings.
Slowly but surely, nature will heal, and so will you.
