Nature does nurture

Another positive contribution to connection and health is our very real need to regularly be in nature. A 2018 study showed that the awe we feel in nature may help lower levels of inflammatory proteins, which improves our health and wellness. According to the study, whenever we experience awe in the presence of nature, art and spirituality, we get a boost to our body’s immune defence system. Positive emotions are associated with lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, which are proteins that signal the immune system to work harder. Sustained higher levels of cytokines are associated with poor health and chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, dementia and clinical depression.

We all need to find our flow with, and within, nature. Maybe, for you, it’s a walk in the park every day, a swim in the ocean, planting some food or flowers and spending time with your pets. The human species is designed to connect with the elements of Mother Nature. When you rise with the sun and go to bed early, your body flows into its natural circadian rhythm. It is this rhythm that is the foundation for your wellbeing. This essential rhythm is kept in check by your connection to yourself, to one another, and to nature.