The Healing Power of Nature.

I often remind my clients to ask themselves throughout the day, “What do I need to return to feelings of calmness and safety?”

This was a question I asked myself constantly throughout my own healing journey, and it’s one I still use whenever I notice myself feeling frustrated or ungrounded.

Recently, I found myself overwhelmed

d after spending too much time on the computer. I paused and asked what I needed to feel calm again, and the answer that came up was, “Walk outside and lie down to look at the trees.” So I did.

Within a short time of lying there, breathing and gazing up at the sky and the trees I felt way better!

As I relaxed, I found myself reflecting on all the time I spent lying outside while I was chronically ill, and how much peace those moments brought me.

When I was couch-bound for a year and a half, I spent my time either lying on the futon inside or resting on a cushion outside. 

I am very grateful to live in a place surrounded by trees. Nature brought me a deep sense of calm and peace through the journey. Even on days when I felt completely awful, lying outside still made me feel a little bit better.

Nature continues to bring me peace every single day.

Here are some interesting facts about why nature can promote both calmness and healing in your mind and body.

Nature is composed of fractals, patterns that humans find deeply calming.

What are fractals? 

• Fractals are repeating, self-similar patterns that appear across different scales, meaning a small part of the pattern resembles the whole. They are found in things such as the branching of trees, leaves, rivers, fern plants and the spiral in a pine cone or seashell.

• For humans, viewing fractals in nature offers psychological benefits such as reduced stress and improved cognitive function, because our brains are hardwired to process them easily, leading to a sense of calm and effortless attention. 

• Humans have evolved in highly fractal environments, which creates an innate connection to these patterns that fosters feelings of calm and comfort in natural settings. 

• Exposure to natural fractals has been linked to significant stress reduction, with some studies showing up to a 60% decrease. — This is due to the brain processing these patterns with an "effortless attention" that is restorative.

• Viewing fractal patterns can lead to a state of meditative calm, helping to combat mental fatigue and improve mental clarity.

So, if you’re able to, remember to go outside as much as possible!

Maybe visit a park or find a safe place where you can spend time in nature, whether that’s in the forest, by the ocean, or simply somewhere that feels grounding to you outside.

If you’re not able to leave your house right now, you can try bringing in some houseplants to care for or spend time gazing out the window.

Sending lots of peace and calm through the last of this year.

Alisha Braswell