By Coral Van Noy
“Look at a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it. How still they are, how deeply rooted in Being. Allow nature to teach you stillness.”
Although spring ended as quick as it began, the weather still remains pleasant enough to leave my window cracked open. Nature’s morning alarm, the sounds of birds outside my apartment, gently makes its wake-up call, setting me up for a more mindful morning. It is an immediate reminder when I wake that I am connected to the world around me. The birdsong helps me to not be so caught up in my own busy schedule—rather be prepared to notice and enjoy what’s around me.
In our fast-paced, independent lives, it can be easy to forget that we are just one part of an interconnected web of being. In Dr. Robin Kimmerer’s book, Braiding Sweetgrass, she discusses this theme of reciprocity with nature. Her beautiful words that weave together science and Indigenous insight have introduced me to a new approach toward relating with nature—an approach that can be active and alive. Nature is not a separate place to visit, rather it is a living relationship that we are innately a part of.
Nature’s Gifts
Engaging with nature in meaningful ways brings about many positive benefits. Research has demonstrated that humans instinctively want to connect with nature (Baxter & Pelletier, 2019). I personally tend to feel more energized and content when I make time to be outdoors, but this effect is not just intuitive, it's also backed by science. Our well-being improves through spending time in nature, including benefits such as improved cognitive function, sleep, physical health and reduced anxiety and depression (Jimenez et al., 2021).
The level of the connectedness we feel with nature also influences the benefits we receive. Researchers in Australia found that people who feel a stronger connection with nature tend to get more relief from stress and anxiety by spending time outside than those with a weaker connection to nature (Chang et al., 2024). Though simply spending time in nature is beneficial, our relationship with nature also matters!
Cultivating a Gift Economy
In her book, Dr. Kimmerer presents a new way to deepen our relationship with nature: the idea of a gift economy. The Earth naturally creates and offers all we need to survive. We might think of these gifts we receive from nature as “free”. However, a gift economy provides an alternate perspective. Dr. Kimmerer writes, “The essence of the gift is that it creates a set of relationships. The currency of a gift economy is, at its root, reciprocity.” (2013, p. 28). This understanding can foster a deep sense of gratitude and stewardship.
As we engage with nature in less transactional ways, we can also feel a sense of belonging and purpose. Though grand gestures that support the health of the Earth are commendable, within a gift economy, the pressure to be perfect in our efforts disappears. A simple desire to give back and honor the natural world can enter us, without fears of doing something wrong or not doing enough.
Authentic Living
Nature engagement also promotes authenticity. One study found that those with a strong connection to nature reported higher levels of authenticity, and the relationship was even stronger for those who actively interacted with nature in some way (Yang et al., 2019). It strikes me as profound that as we connect with the natural world around us we feel more free to live in alignment with our true nature. We can learn from nature that variety is beautiful, and that each of us is a reflection of the diversity and uniqueness in all of nature. In connecting with this, we can find a sense of wholeness in who we are innately. Just as a flower doesn’t need to mirror its neighbor to be valued, we too hold inherent worth simply by being ourselves.
Ideas to Practice
Connecting with nature doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here are a few ideas you might enjoy.
Create rituals of nature engagement.
Life gets busy. By establishing a routine, you can ensure that time is set aside for connecting and honoring nature. It could be a simple daily gesture, like taking a moment to breathe in the morning air outside before eating your breakfast, or a weekly activity, such as a hike or walk every Sunday.
Find beauty in the mundane.
Depending on your circumstances, wide open expanses of nature may not always be within reach. However, nature is alive all around us. I know that there are times I step outside without truly seeing the world around me. Find ways to intentionally look for life in places you might not normally notice, whether it’s a weed growing in the parking lot, beautiful clouds in the sky, or the joy in a dog’s wagging tail.
Learn from the land.
Reading Braiding Sweetgrass has given me a greater desire to learn about the intricacies of nature. There is much we can learn from the steady rhythms of life around us. As Dr. Kimmerer writes, plants have “been on the Earth far longer than we have been, and have had time to figure things out.” (2013, p. 9). Explore an element of nature that interests you, and then be open to the wisdom it teaches. This could be learning more about creating a home garden, or watching an educational video about a tree you love.
Visit the Nature Engagement Mini Module for more ideas.
Whichever practice you choose to implement, take note of the energy and purpose it brings into your life. As we dissolve the illusion of separateness between ourselves and the natural world, we awaken to a deep wisdom and sense of belonging—one that invites us to give back to the living Earth that sustains us.
“For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver.”
References
Baxter, D. E., & Pelletier, L. G. (2019). Is nature relatedness a basic human psychological need? A critical examination of the extant literature. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie Canadienne, 60(1), 21–34. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000145.
Chang, Cc., Lin, B.B., Feng, X. et al. (2024). A lower connection to nature is related to lower mental health benefits from nature contact. Sci Rep 14, 6705. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-56968-5
Jimenez, M. P., DeVille, N. V., Elliott, E. G., Schiff, J. E., Wilt, G. E., Hart, J. E., & James, P. (2021). Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(9), 4790. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18094790.
Kimmerer, R. W. (2013). Braiding sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. Milkweed Editions.
Yang, Y., Sedikides, C., Wang, Y., & Cai, H. (2024). Nature nurtures authenticity: Mechanisms and consequences. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 126(1), 79–104. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000432.