Eco Existential Positive Psychology : Experiences, Nature, Existential Anxieties, And Well Being Essay

Nature in its tranquility provides a calming sensation away from the buzzing city life. The ability

The outdoors is hidden to many people around the world. All many see is the huge skyscrapers and whitewash walls of the cities. These people don’t tend to be as happy because there isn’t a stress reliever, or a place to get away to. They need this place so that they can have some time to just relax, learn, and develop true happiness. The outdoors is an escape for those who know it and are available to experience it on a regular basis. These places can be the Great Redwood Forests and Lake Almanor in California, to Canada’s vast river and lake systems, to the fields of Kansas, and the mountains of New Zealand. All of these places have one thing in common, the freedom to live. So many city dwellers don’t get to experience these things, which rural people hold to so dearly. The constant hustle and bustle of the city tends to keep people from their happiness. The stress of city life has a way to go “out the window” when you spend time outside with yourself and nature. The ones who can experience the life in the

appreciation for nature, which is what could be ultimately lead to such positive feedback from the

Even though we separated ourselves from nature in the attempt to salvage some beauty in the world we still “began to alter places where we were not,” through by-products of our industrialized society. (Mckibben XX) Mckibben says “it is also true that we are apart of nature” (Mckibben XXI) while Cronon wants us to see that “wilderness is more a state of mind than a fact of nature.” (Cronon 493) While Cronon wants humans to separate themselves from the wild, Mckibben asks us to confront nature head on. We are apart of it and“we possess the possibility of self-restraint” so we still have the means to stop abusing the natural order. In order to do this “we would need to change the ways we move ourselves around, the spaces we live in, the jobs we perform.” (Mckibben XXII) We can start by thinking of practical ways to affect the environment positively, starting in the

Ecotherapy is a growing profession with the new ideas that being outside can really improve ones health . An ecotherapist addresses physical and mental health and how it is affected by being outdoors. Ecotherapy uses a range of practices in order to help people connect with nature and ultimately with ones "inner nature" as well(HAMBLIN). According to James Hamblin, "Ecotherapy is the name given to a wide range of treatment programs which aim to improve your mental and physical wellbeing through doing outdoor activities in nature.

The two articles help readers understand that when man and nature are together they create knowledge and emotions. Both writers describe feelings that one might feel when in touch with nature; in different ways, both elaborate on the fact that if man and nature were to disconnect then an imbalance would occur. “The river was

Nature is necessary and everyone can gain from it, as Bryson said, he felt “...healthier and stronger…” after walking the trail. Spending time in nature can bring a feeling of alleviation. It does not only have a positive effect on one’s physical health, but mental health as well. Bryson mentioned, “He saw the AT [...] a network of mountaintop work camps where pale, depleted urban workers in the thousands would come and [...] refresh themselves on nature” (Bryson 39). Nature gives way more than people think. It can help cleanse the body and reduce any type of stress that may bother a person. Not to mention all beautiful creatures and life that live within

For example, Paige Brown Jarreau, in her article talks about how nature can affect your outlook on life. She says that by "perceiving natural beauty" and "being emotionally aroused" is "associated with greater psychological well-being and environmental conservation." (Jarreau 1) Through her research she found a scientist named Jia Wei Zhang and a few of his colleagues conducted research to see how exactly nature benefited people. His research concluded that people “who were more emotionally attuned to natural beauty (i.e., those who perceive nature’s beauty) appear to reap the most positive benefits from being connected with nature." (Jarreau 1) Backing up the that people should really enjoy nature more than just passing it by.

Nature can be perceived as simple, but it is a necessity that people often over look, although, it is an aspect of everyday life. What if one was told nature has the ability to improve personal wellness in several ways? Would they change their habits to increase the amount of exposure they have to nature? Or would they simply overlook that fact as well? People should be required to spend at least an hour a week outside because it is scientifically proven to improve health: physically, psychologically, and behaviorally, increase self esteem, and a decrease in violence and crime. Nature is free and always accessible; everybody should take advantage of it and the positives it can bring instead of suffering from the negatives that can occur without using nature to an advantage.

It is common for people to feel that they were influenced by the surroundings. The process of being influenced is the way people shape their values. Otherwise, people will hold only one singular value, which is dangerous to their mental health. Through directly or indirectly influences under the immediate environment, people learn to adjust their moods, which is the key leading to happiness. Jane Goodall in “In the Forests of Gombe” shares her experience in the forest. When she stayed with chimpanzees, she feels peaceful. The natural environment helps her to get out of the sadness of her husbands (Derek) death. The days in the forest made Goodall believe that religion and science are not mutually exclusive. Alain de Botton in “On Habit” discusses a traveling mindset, which means that people are more likely to accept and respect new things during traveling. However, when they back home, they lost this traveling mindset, so they feel their lives are boring. Such traveling mindset teaches people to always explore their lives and use different views to see their surroundings. Both authors talk about how their psyches are related to the environment. Goodall focuses on how the environment affects her mental status, while de Botton tells different mindsets can change people’s views toward the environment. Our immediate environment and our mental well-being are related to each other. People can adopt a traveling mindset to explore the environment in a different way and the change of

times and the present day, we must change the way we interact with our environment. Whether

Nature has provided humans an extensive variety of free sources, that has helped humanity to thrive and survive. As humans, we collectively depend on nature. Humans benefit from nature in ways that include our interaction with the environment, animals, and plants.

Nature supports are wellbeing in many ways studies show that the environment can increase or reduce your stress. Another study shows that spending some time outside can better your mind and make you in a better mood (University of Minnesota). Also nature can connect us as humans together and can connect us to the larger world (University of Minnesota, 2014). Another ongoing theme is friendship. Friendship is really important in this story.

We are a part of nature however we are its greatest enemy. Since the dawn of time humans starting inventing. We strive to make our lives easier but at what cost? Our connection to the world we live in has become increasingly distant because there is not a close connection between humans and nature. By neglecting our relationships with nature we suffer personal consequences such as missing out on earth's beauty, activities, and living a healthy life.

In a charming green setting, just a few minutes from the centre of Liège, Ferme de la Vache is developing a social project that combines a biological type of gardening linked to a community center and the enhancement of the classified site. They try to encourage the discovery of nature, respecting the environment and show the proper use of composting all linked to the aid of meetings between the residents of the area of rue de Pierreuse. On the site of Ferme de la Vache there is also a psychiatric center where the patients can walk free in the gardens of the farm. Being in nature is has long been associated with being mindful and meditative, but only recently has the scientific community researched the mental health benefits of outdoor immersion. My aim is to focus on the health benefits provided by urban farming, community gardens and being in a green environment overall. But the main goal is to focus more specifically on community gardens and food growing because that is what’s happening in Ferme de la Vache.