The Gifts From Nature You Forgot to Notice

"As the season of gratitude approaches, most of us begin to think about the people, opportunities, and experiences that enrich our lives. These matter deeply. But in my work exploring the rewilding of the human mind, I've found that one of the greatest sources of support in our lives is something we rarely acknowledge-because it's all around us, all the time."

"Gratitude is widely recognized as one of the most powerful positive emotions. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that gratitude interventions significantly improve life satisfaction and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. 1 Additional research shows that gratitude practices are associated with a range of physical health benefits-including better sleep quality, improved cardiovascular functioning, and healthier inflammatory profiles-according to a 2023 systematic review of gratitude interventions. 2"

"These contributions are so constant that they often remain invisible. In my recent TEDxBentonville talk, I spoke about the most endangered habitat being within us-and how reconnecting with the living world plays a crucial role in restoring it. What we often forget is that nature is already supporting us every day in ways we barely notice. Research is beginning to illuminate just how vital those contributions truly are."

Nature provides continuous sensory inputs — air, light, soothing sounds, calming patterns, and restorative environments — that support mood, attention, sleep, and stress regulation. Gratitude is a powerful positive emotion; randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews find gratitude interventions increase life satisfaction and reduce depression and anxiety symptoms. Gratitude practices are also associated with physical health benefits including better sleep quality, improved cardiovascular function, and healthier inflammatory profiles. Ecological gratitude — directing thanks toward the natural world — enhances well-being, boosts vitality, and increases caring and pro-environmental behavior. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses provide the strongest evidence base for these effects.

Read at Psychology Today