Intro

Whether you took time to go to where you could observe the totality of the solar eclipse on April 8 or were able to observe only a percentage of it, you certainly experienced the world being captivated by an event that led to much of our American culture “pausing” to note the beauty and and wonder of the natural world.  And if you took a moment to notice the conversation about the eclipse, you will have realized that unlike so many of the conversations in our world today, the eclipse brought people together across every kind of division. No matter what groups people belonged to, or what age, or what they believe, we all had the eclipse in common. For a couple of hours we were all one; we all belonged.

My Thoughts

One powerful practice to strengthen mental health is to intentionally pause and notice the natural world. Even a five minute walk around the block focusing your attention on the fresh air, sky, and the variety of plants can calm the mind and body. Other places you might consider are woods, parks, rivers, creeks, lakes and ponds or really any place that gives you a sense of peace.  Pausing to notice the natural world has multiple benefits as we discovered with the eclipse.

Conclusion 

• Beauty found in nature has a natural calming effect on most people. It is almost as if the beauty is speaking to you.  So much of life is spent with us trying to control circumstances in our lives.  Natural beauty does not need your help.  You can just delight in it.
• When we pause to connect with nature, we are also connecting more generally to something bigger than ourselves.  We recognize that we are a part of a larger story; not the cause or source of that story.  This is helpful in reducing the perceived stress of our busy lives - of needing to be responsible for everything at once.
• As we discovered with the eclipse, connecting with nature also connects with other people.  Beauty connects us with other people - it gives us a sense of belonging to a community of others.  Belonging addresses one of our key insecurities which can be summarized as a fear of abandonment and/or rejection.
• Extra Credit: Pair a walk with intentional gratitude.  As you walk around the block or in the woods or as you sit by the creek, consider all the things you have in your life for which you are grateful.

Intentionally and regularly pausing to recognize the natural beauty around you will be a strong part of the practices that will help you build and maintain strong mental health.