Contact with Nature versus Connection with Nature

There is a difference between having contact with nature and connecting more deeply with nature. Contact happens when we walk through the park, but our attention is elsewhere – perhaps planning whatever we’re going to do when we reach our destination, or thinking about a recent conversation. We might even be enjoying the scenery or appreciating the brightly coloured flowers but we’re not really taking time to absorb ourselves in this experience – so we’re missing out on the full benefits.

Connection happens when we bring our full attention to our surroundings using all of our senses, and this has more impact on our mental and emotional wellbeing.  

Regular contact with nature has many obvious physical health benefits. It is linked with increased exercise which has positive impacts on levels of obesity and general fitness. Other benefits include increased exposure to Vitamin D, vital for good bone and immune health – and it is also linked with improvements in children’s eyesight as they exercise their eye muscles to look into the distance after long periods looking at screens and being indoors.

Connection with nature means tuning into the senses (sight, smell, touch, sound and taste) noticing beauty, opening up to our emotional responses, finding meaning and cultivating a sense of compassion. When we move from simple contact with nature to a deeper connection we open ourselves to other benefits, including improved sleep, reduced stress and a great sense of vitality, meaning and purpose. This has been shown in multiple studies.

Researchers at University of Derby devised the Nature Connection Index (NCI) to measure levels of connection with nature and studies showed that people with a high connection are 1.7 times more likely to report their lives as being purposeful, meaningful and worthwhile.

If you want to discover a deeper connection with nature and gain a sense of vitality and purpose then join me for a Nature Fix and learn more about the research, the techniques and the science behind it all. You’ll find the whole back catalogue of journals, guides, videos and sound recordings to dip into at your leisure. No commitment to join a regular zoom meeting or keep up with a course – just lots of beautiful resources and invitations to connect with nature in simple easy ways, and tips for each month to keep you on track. Before you know it you’ll be connecting with nature every time you leave the house – there’s always a corner of sky, a twinkle of dew or a fluttering leaf, even in the most urban area – you just need to know how to look.