When you grow things, cultivate the earth, you also nurture happiness and gratitude.
Landscapes help us to appreciate the beauty in the everyday. When we take a moment to stop the dizzying spin of our lives and look at our outdoor environment – whether scanning for birds or focusing in on a particular area or plant that is attracting our eye, we free our minds to quiet and observe.
Spending a moment to observe the nature of our own landscapes is good for the heart both emotionally and physically. The data on the potential of landscapes as a resource for physical, mental and social well-being is there, according to this study on ResearchGate.
Landscapes promote wellbeing through:
• attention restoration, stress reduction, and the evocation of positive emotions
• physical well-being through the promotion of physical activity in daily life
• leisure time
• walkable environments
• social wellbeing:
- social integration
- social engagement and social participation
- social support and security
This holiday season, take a moment in your landscape to observe and be present – even for short bursts of quiet. This is your gift to yourself – the best gift of all.
