DR PUSHPA CHATURVEDI is filled with awe at majestic nature and shares research on how it benefits us and promotes mental health
When I watch natural wonders such as majestic mountains, rivers and seas, waterfalls, vast deserts, green spaces, gardens, sunset and sunrise – I am filled with a sense of awe that both inspires and overwhelms me. It gives birth to a powerful, mysterious and happy emotion that connects me to my true Self and fills me with a great sense of well-being.
Being with nature creates a feeling of respect, humbleness and amazement deep within. I am sure many of you must have experienced this. No wonder the Yogis wandered into the mountain ranges to connect with the Self.
Better mental health
The beauty of nature is such that it nurtures mental health giving the mind peace and joy. Sometimes, I wonder if it’s a spiritual or a religious way of looking at the world. I presume that even atheists must be experiencing this same sense of awe. Anything that takes us out of our usual mindset and allows us to experience a connection with something greater creates an aura of awe.
When we are with nature, we begin to understand our place in the universe.
For one, we experience the strong connection between spirituality and nature. It makes us appreciate things as they are, sharpens our awareness and we experience the true meaning of humility. Nature teaches us to stress less from trying to control things around us and have greater respect for things that we take for granted.
Being with nature, we often experience a sense of gratitude for life’s simple daily gifts. When we are filled with gratitude, we automatically begin to practise selflessness, compassion, empathy, patience and begin to find beauty even in imperfections. We become less materialistic and more spiritual. Being with nature generates many positive emotions such as calmness, joy, and creativity.
The bonus is that it facilitates concentration. Connectedness to nature is also associated with better mental health as it lowers stress, depression and anxiety.
Nature helps us age gracefully
Scientific studies have revealed that spending time with nature may even help us age gracefully. It makes us feel more youthful and increases our immunity. Such people experience fewer joint pains or sleep problems. It also multiplies our happiness and positive vibes.
Research shows that people who are more connected to nature are usually happier in life and more likely to feel content, generate positive vibes, live with a positive attitude and feel grateful for being able to feel greater satisfaction with their lot.
Spend time with “everyday” nature
Research has also shown that it’s not necessary to spend money to visit natural and remote places to focus and tune into nature; being with “everyday” nature close to home through simple activities is equally good for our mental well-being. Even as I make my way to my rooftop regularly, I watch nature around me and it instantly fills me with a sense of well-being.
Enjoy the simple joys of nature
The good news is that one does not need to spend extravagantly and have extraordinary experiences in nature to feel awe or feel mentally fit. Even if one takes a few minutes to enjoy the flowers that are blooming, or to smell the roses, do a little gardening, walk barefoot on a sandy beach, watch the sea waves, or enjoy a sunrise or a sunset in our daily life, it improves our well-being.
Nature makes us happier and healthier because it inspires awe — a feeling of reverence, wonder, gratitude and oneness caused by something which is miraculous, majestic, beautiful, sublime, and sacred.
Here are some verses that nature inspired within me:
Pure consciousness around
not a single silent sound
Gazing in awe and splendour
at the mystical surrounds
Staring at the sky
brings inner chaos in order abound
The oneness of this magical merger
keeps me astound
“We are one” the echo keeps
on resounding on the rebound
A beautiful awakening
full of love and peace I have found
All images by Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi
Dr Pushpa Chaturvedi, a paediatrician with over 50 years’ experience, is an educationist and researcher, with over 100 research publications, mainly on social paediatrics in renowned medical journals. Ex-Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics, MGIMS Sevagram, Wardha, she is a thinker, writer, poet, artist and a spiritual blogger with over 500 blogs to her credit. Dr Chaturvedi is also a keen traveller, music and nature lover.
True Pushpaji, Nature fills us with a sense of awe and wonder and it is due to this awe inspiring mystic call that the sincerest of seekers from all over the world followed the pace of Nature to trace back to our own origin which as such is the womb of Nature.
And hence, following the pace of Nature is in itself the journey of our own self discovery. Those who succeed in doing so, they understand that nothing whatsoever that is in the universe is apart from Nature. And it is precisely this very understanding of our genesis that has grown into Pantheism, the earliest of religion which is undeniably the mother of all the religions whatsoever.
Love of Nature as such is the core religious experience and hence deeply religious people not merely get drawn into the realm of Nature but get immersed in the vibe of Nature.They are blessed with a mystic’s insight…to naturally understand the chemistry of nature which alone has the alchemy to bind each entity of the universe together. One may rather say, Nature opens up to them it’s guarded secret, which is essentially, the essence of everything that we want to decipher.
We may call this nameless secret whichever way we may prefer…be it Truth, God, Allah, Ishwar, Tao, or whatsoever.
Indeed!
Nothing like the ambit and ambiance
of nature,
which envelops us from all around…
And as you have so succinctly concluded,
“The oneness of this magical merger
keeps me astound.
“We are one” the echo keeps
on resounding on the rebound
A beautiful awakening
full of love and peace I have found”
Yes Pushpaji, sense of separateness makes us estranged and sense of oneness binds us in the bond of togetherness. And it is in the realm of Nature only we can discover the warmth of unending bliss by reaping the perennial dividend of this awe inspiring unitive experience.
A very beautiful post Pushpa ji. Thanks for sharing.
Pranam