Five ways to cultivate a sense of wonder

Psychotherapist Alix Hearn helps you immerse yourself in nature as if for the first time, overturn a negative mindset and benefit from the wisdom and power at your fingertips

Try to rekindle the amazement

that you had as a young child encountering the joys of nature. As adults, we can become jaded and take magnificent places and creatures for granted.

Go out when it’s windy or raining.

Wild forces can remove you from one state and connect you with a new one. Nature is unpredictable – you can’t set an agenda or make a spreadsheet.

Come up with a way to describe

how the wind feels in your hair, or the raindrops on your face. Journal or make a voice recording on your phone to note your observations. Watch tiny insects and busy birds as if you've never seen them before – engaging with details brings you into the moment.

Put your hands in the earth.

Connecting your body with the soil is a powerful act. Lie on the ground, alone or with others. Feel Mother Earth support you. Look up at the clouds and sky and allow yourself to feel a sense of awe. Remove your shoes and walk barefoot on the grounding earth.

Befriend a tree.

Visit it every time you go out. Notice how it changes – a new bloom, colour or growth spurt. Bonus points for photographing it regularly and giving it an Instagram account!