Nature Improves Your Health & Mood

I came across this article on Facebook today and thought it would be a good post for my hunting blog since most hunters love to be close to nature and enjoy it's beauty. Being in the woods really lifts my mood as well as being close to God's creatures in our great outdoors. 

Everyone gets a little down from time to time, but you can avoid letting that control you. Nature is one of the best mood boosters available. The beauty of your surroundings can help you feel happy and whole again. Focus on the cycle of life and the beauty of your surroundings.

Go outside and take a deep breath. Enjoy the smell of plants and flowers. Stare into the sky and listen to the chirp of the birds in the trees. All of those things are excellent ways to feel better. Live in a city? If you feel like you’re surrounded by concrete and glass, it can be hard to feel peaceful. But there’s almost certainly a city park within a short driving distance from your home where you can take the time to look for the peace you crave.

Commune with Nature for Emotional Health
When you’re looking for emotional health, keep in mind that many approaches are available. Some people attend therapy or take classes that are aimed at helping them succeed. Others meditate in a quiet place where they can be completely alone. How you use nature to improve your mood is a personal choice that only you can make.

Here are some possible ways to help improve your mood with nature:

• Sit near a body of water, such as a river, stream, lake, or ocean.
• Take time in a city park or other green, grassy area where it’s cool and calm.
• Listen to birds, a purring cat, or lapping waves in person or on a CD.
• Visualize yourself out in peaceful nature, even when you can’t be there.
• Make time for something in nature each and every day.

There are many ways to harness the restorative power of nature, and people who do so find that they feel more at peace even when they aren’t in a nature setting. You can be one of those people. Think about the type of environment you like. Rugged mountains? The ocean? Something else? No matter what kind of scenery you most enjoy, you can find inner peace and harmony there.

A Good Mood is a Choice

You can choose to be in a good mood. Even when things fail to go your way, your mood is completely up to you. Every day, when you start to feel anxious or upset, think about something that makes you feel peaceful. Spend more time taking in the beauty of your natural surroundings. When you do, you’ll be storing in your mind a reservoir of relaxing memories that can be called upon at any time to restore that peaceful feeling.

As you visualize what makes you happy, you’ll be able to hear and see it in your mind’s eye. You may even believe you smell the ocean or the grass. You’ll feel more relaxed, and your good mood will stay with you instead of being lost in an ocean of hurry and busyness. No matter the worry, big or small, natural surroundings can help you improve your mood and stay peaceful.