The proof is there - there are "four protections for well-being" hat come from immersing oneself in natural environments and green spaces. The scientists have the metrics:
1. being with nature seems to cause improved heart rate and breathing, both of which are signs of reduced stress levels.
2. being with nature gives the mind a chance to rest, aiding "attention restoration" and thereby restoring mental acuity. It also seems to cause brain waves associated with calmness and daydreaming to synchronize.
3. being in natural settings seems to break cycles of thought "rumination," a behavior linked to depression and anxiety.
4. being in nature is known to induce happiness—naturally!
See the full story with all the studies identified HERE. The site is the Greater Good Science Center. This is an interesting site with a number of quizzes. For example, the Awe Quiz asks how much awe do you experience in your life? I was very impressed to see this question in the quiz:
Isn't that so excellent to be in the quiz. To take the quiz go HERE
Which Niagara Falls would we be in awe of? The first is the view from Beamer Point in Grimsby, with the cloud of the Falls on the left. The second is the view on a misty day, and the third is a tourist getting a photo-worthy view on a sunny day. Our last one with all the lights on the Falls at night was taken on January 1st, 2019.
