What you see above are pictures of nature that my wife shared with me. The first one on the left was taken today. The others were taken in the spring. Seeing nature, listening to nature, and being in the nature environment refreshes our soul and our mind. The spirit of God is in nature. There is research that clearly shows being in nature actively reduces stress in our lives.
REDUCING STRESS
We all have stress in our lives. How we manage that stress leads to a healthy life or an unhealthy life. Even the American Heart Association (www.heart.org) states that “spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing”. Whether its forest bathing, green time, wilderness cure, or ecotherapy, your brain benefits from being in nature.
HARMONY IN THE MIND
The time spent outside in nature helps calm the chaos in our minds. Research on children with ADHD shows that attention span improves after spending time in nature. Even being exposed to nature scenes helped some study participants’ brain light up (with an MRI) areas of empathy and love.
FOOD FOR THE SOUL
Being in nature helps us feel closer to God and connects with our soul. We use all five of our senses when we are in nature – the sun shining warm on your face, hearing the song of the mockingbird, the smell of the trees, the taste of the nectar in the honeysuckle, and seeing all of God’s gift to us through nature.
During this week, take a walk in the woods, take a tour of local gardens, get outside and enjoy nature. You will have a healthier and calmer mind, and a stronger soul for it.
Kind Regards,
Dr. Mike
References:
https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health
https://www.shondaland.com/live/body/a33252244/the-healing-powers-of-nature/ 
https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing