Why Spending Time in Nature Feels Like Coming Home
And this is what you feared,
this is what you thought
you couldn’t stand,
yet there you are, standing.
What we can withstand
is greater than what we imagine,
greater than any fantasy.
I kept seeking an eagle,
looking towards the horizon
until my eyes watered
from the sun and the wind.
Crying and tired,
I lowered my chin,
and finally noticed
my own wings.
I am an eagle.
I am at ease
in this feather-laden skin.
~Excerpt from “Becoming an Eagle” by Lisa Poff
If you spend enough time in nature, it cultivates peace and connection with the natural world around you. The wind brushes against your face, cool and constant. The sky stretches out endlessly. Your feet press into the dirt below, grounding you in a world that somehow feels both ancient and alive. It’s in these spaces, surrounded by Sequoias and streams and stones, that you can find pieces of yourself that you thought were lost forever.
We Californians are lucky. We have nine National Parks. We have the desert, the mountains, the coast, and forests with giant Sequoias. Within a day’s drive or less, we have access to all kinds of opportunities for real immersion in nature. While we have those treasures to explore, it’s easy to add more nature into your life simply by taking a neighborhood walk and noticing the different types of plants, animals, and insects you encounter as you feel the ground sturdy beneath your feet.
The Healing Power of Nature
There’s something deeply profound about being among things that have existed long before you and will continue long after you. The steady strength of ancient trees, the whisper of grass swaying in rhythms only it knows—it all carries a wisdom that asks nothing from you, requires no explanations or justifications. The wild doesn’t care about your successes or failures; it only invites you to be.
Research backs up the restorative effects of nature. Studies show that time spent in nature reduces the stress hormone cortisol, improves mood, and increases overall well-being. But statistics don’t adequately explain what happens when you sit on the beach at sunset, watching the sun disappear into the horizon. That’s something that can only be felt.
Finding Presence in the Outdoors
There’s a gentle truth I’ve learned under open skies. Nature doesn’t rush. Life in the natural world isn’t obsessed with productivity or perfection. The seasons unfold in their own time, with grace and patience. A bud doesn’t force itself into bloom, and a river doesn’t apologize for carving its path. It just is. It’s this unhurried, unapologetic sense of being that makes spending time outdoors so deeply grounding.
When in nature, you don’t have to chastise yourself for standing still in a world that demands you keep moving. You can simply exist. I’ve come to believe that the natural world teaches us presence better than any mindfulness app ever could. It pulls us away from the inevitable pull of yesterday’s regrets and tomorrow’s anxieties, asking only that you notice the now.
How Nature Impacts Our Inner World
If you’ve been feeling stuck—emotionally, mentally, physically—maybe what you need isn’t another self-help book or an hour lost to overthinking. Maybe what you need is sunlight on your skin and sand beneath your feet.
When I tell my therapy clients about the benefits of spending time in nature, I often see their skepticism. How can walking through a park possibly change the storm inside their heads? But I’ll share the same thing with you that I share with them: it’s not a cure. Nature isn’t going to undo years of pain or magically fix what feels broken. What it offers is space. Space to hear your own thoughts. Space to sort through the pieces of yourself that you’ve been avoiding. Space to feel, without distraction.
And sometimes, within that space, something beautiful starts to happen. You realize that just like the seasons shift and adapt, so can you. The resilience of the natural world becomes a mirror for your own.
Tips for Incorporating Nature Into Your Life
If you’re not sure where to begin, that’s okay. It doesn’t take a Half Dome hike in Yosemite. Start small. Here are some ways you can begin leaning into the healing power of nature:
Take a Walk Near Green Spaces
Whether it’s a park, a nature reserve, or just a tree-lined street, aim to spend 15–30 minutes outside. Leave your phone behind, or better yet, turn it off. Just walk and notice—notice the way the air smells after it rains or how the leaves change with the seasons.
Bring the Outdoors to Your Home
If outdoor access is limited, try bringing nature inside. Houseplants, fresh flowers, a fountain, or even the sound of a nature-inspired playlist can mimic the calming effects of being outdoors.
Plan Weekend Adventures
Dedicate a few hours each weekend to exploring nearby trails, mountains, or beaches. Go alone if you need solitude, or take someone who understands the value of silence.
Practice “Grounding”
Spend time barefoot on grassy fields or sandy shores. The sensation of connecting your skin directly to the earth is surprisingly calming—a reminder that you’re part of something bigger.
Pause and Observe
Even during your busiest days, pause to notice the world around you. Watch the clouds, listen to the birds, or feel the warmth of sunlight through a window. These small moments of connection can make all the difference.
Your Inner Wilderness
John Muir wrote, “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.”
Nature doesn’t just offer escape. It offers clarity. It reminds us of who we are beneath the layers of stress, expectations, and the busy lives we’ve built. Out there, surrounded by the beauty and resilience of the world, it’s easier to believe that there’s beauty and resilience within us too.
If you’ve been yearning for something you can’t quite name, the answer might just be waiting beyond your front door.
Take that first step. Nature is a place to feel at ease in your own skin.
