Prime Your Receptivity to Nature Experiences
The key to priming your receptivity is to interrupt that internal chatter that keeps your mind busy or overrides the learned tendency to downplay environmental information. Nature has a powerful effect on our mental and emotional well-being because it pulls us into the present moment. By priming your receptivity, you give nature a helping hand in doing its magic.
Two friends stroll through a rose garden. One friend leaves feeling refreshed, with the sweet scent of roses lingering in his or her mind and a clear head. The other friend barely notices the flowers and leaves feeling pretty much the same as when they arrived.
You might think the second person's mind was just somewhere else. But where exactly is that "somewhere else"?
Two psychological ideas can help explain this, both of which can stop a person from fully enjoying the benefits of nature.
The first is called "inattentional blindness." This happens when your mind is occupied with something else. For example, if you're anxious or stressed, your mind might be busy replaying past events or worrying about the future. This mental busyness means you're not fully tuned in to what's happening around you.
The second idea is a version of the "Cocktail Effect." Imagine being at a noisy party where you're trying to focus on one conversation while ignoring all the other noise around you. Your brain is filtering out distractions to focus on what it thinks is most important. Similarly, in urban environments with lots of random noise, our brains learn to ignore certain sensory inputs to reduce confusion and uncertainty.
Most people spend a lot of time in busy urban settings, so this filtering becomes a habit. It means we're not always fully receptive to the sights, sounds, and smells of nature when we encounter them.
Studies have shown that walking from a busy city street into a park can shift your brain into a calmer, more receptive state. Your unconscious mind quickly picks up on the soothing patterns of nature, helping to reduce stress. Other studies demonstrate that nature has beneficial impacts on your immune system.
So, if you're heading out to connect with nature for some mental and physical well-being, why risk missing out on the full experience?
The solution is to "Prime Your Receptivity" to the world outside and let it stimulate your wellness. In simple terms, this means getting ready to fully experience nature.
Here are three easy ways to do it:
Smile! Even if it's fake, smiling can boost your mood and increase your openness to new stimulation and experiences.
Stand tall. Studies show that standing upright can lift your mood and boost creativity. So, take a minute to pull your head upwards towards the sky, pull your shoulder back, and stand as tall. The effect can be almost immediate.
Pay attention to your breath. Focusing on your breathing can quickly calm you down and make you more open to new experiences. Try taking short inhales through your nose, holding your breath briefly, and then exhaling slowly through your mouth.
Check out my video “Getting the Most out of Nature.”