Engaging In Nature To Promote Our Wellness

So, are you excited? Ready to dip your toes into nature and see what she does for you?  Nervous? Skeptical? Willing to give it a try? Let us first define the difference between healing and curing, just so we’re clear.  Put simply, curing, is the elimination of the signs and symptoms of disease.  It is consistent with the western diagnose and treat medical model. Healing goes deeper; more complete, and may or may not include curing.  Healing is a dynamic process that connects the mind-body-spirit in a positive way.  This often leads to a person feeling well, more energetic, more creative, centered. It is pretty safe to say that most of us are in a continual state of healing as there are so many factors pulling us away from this delicate balance. If you want to understand this definition further, you may want to do some exploring of the terms on your own or visit my disclaimer page for a more in depth definition.
 
So, how can we involve nature in our wellness plan?  Let’s start with something simple, shall we?  Go outside.  What do you first notice; a shocking jolt of cold air, moisture steaming from your mouth?  Or do you feel a misty rain moisturizing your dry skin?  What do you hear? Chatty birds and the delicate whistle of a breeze blowing by your ears or cars, trucks and horns barging into your mind?  Take some deep breathes, what do you smell?  Maybe you want to try closing your eyes, what further stimulus do your senses pick up.  How does this make you feel?  Maybe even your taste buds are picking up on something.  Is the tension in your shoulders softening, allowing more space between them and your head?  Is the smell of a nearby rose bush triggering memories of being with your grandmother, picking flowers in her garden?  Or are senses picking up things that feel aggravating?
 
As we become more aware of the elements in nature and how they make us feel, we can begin to identify which of her offerings work best for ourselves.  Perhaps we may want to integrate some of these more consciously into our life.  For example, if we find that the constant influx of sounds feels unnerving, maybe we want to try turning off our phones and t.v. at night 15 minutes before bed.  We may want to take this nightly ritual further and dim the lights, turn on soothing music or nature sounds and just focus on our breathing. Maybe taking a fifteen meditative walk outside during our work break would leave us feeling calmer and more rejuvenated than eating doughnuts and coffee in the break room with no windows.  Mind you, this coming from a doughnut connoisseur-everything in moderation.
 
What do you think? Is this something you think you may want to try? If so, turn off your computer and go ahead and step outside.  Let me know what you discover.

#healing #nature #holistic #integrativehealth #nursing 

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