Last year, I had the incredible privilege of presenting at REI and Arrow Adventure on the following topic: NATURE'S POSITIVE IMPACTS ON MENTAL HEALTH. Being able to intersect my passion and background in mental health advocacy with my knowledge of adventure disciplines, preparation, and outreach was a dream I hope to continue pursuing.
Here are some takeaways:
1. Our brains are meant to keep us alive, not to keep us happy. When we are out in nature, we are encountering situations that our brains and nervous systems are evolutionarily more programmed to confront.
2. Our brains and nervous systems have not yet evolved to cope with the level of technology we use on a daily basis. Our stimulation levels are being overwhelmed by stimuli to which we're trying to adapt, but it's still crucial to maintain a balance of stimulation as it originates from the natural world around us.
3. You might feel extra pride when you complete a challenging work project, or get that raise. Have you ever felt pride, though, at hiking to the top of a mountain or being able to think clearly while witnessing a bear cross your path? The latter forms of challenge, I would claim, are more generalizable to improving your confidence and resilience levels versus the other way around. Starting a fire in the rain? Navigating off-trail with a map and compass? Facing these kinds of adversities make that excel sheet then feel like a piece of cake.
4. Nature can provide immense grounding opportunities. Again, with the amount of technology consumption, our nervous systems and brains can feel very frayed. While nature can incorporate stressful situations, in can conversely provide us with the emotional regulation we need. Barefoot on the grass, the sound of water, hugging a tree. Connection to the earth is connection to ourselves, really.
5. There are so many metaphors that include nature and adventure, and activities that can derive from these. If you were a season, what would you be? What animal or element? What does your favorite national park say about you?
Hoping for more of these presentations in the coming year. To more adventure!