Emotion Regulation & the Natural World

Question: How does nature help with regulation and balance?

Dave’s forest therapy training - https://anft.earth/

Emotion Regulation tip #1 - let things be complicated

• Science and mystery
• Concrete concepts around ourselves and our bodies as well as spiritual or less concrete concepts around ourselves

Emotion Regulation tip #2 - we regulate when we provide a space

• For each other (co-regulation)
• For ourselves (self-regulation)
• We are a part of nature and regulate within nature.
• We are constantly in a process of shedding and restoring.
• God designed us with internal and externally connected regulation methods.

Emotion Regulation tip #3 - getting out of our own way of regulating

• How do we accidentally get in the way of regulating naturally?
• Origins of forest therapy with the advent of tech/media
• Benefits of the natural world on our cardiovascular system

Emotion Regulation tip #4 -find the blue spaces and the green spaces

• 3 specific outlined mechanisms for emotion regulation in nature:

foster positive emotions

Signals parasympathetic nervous system or rest/wellbeing state

connection and care of nature as respite, rebuilds energy

Emotion Regulation tip #5 - practice grounding

• Finding a sense in our body that we have a firm foundation, tethered to the ground or our seat
• Often feel “ungrounded” in chaotic world and holding 3-5 emotions at any given time
• Increasing vagal tone

Links:

ANFT website - https://anft.earth/

Enoch story (Genesis 5)

Noah Kahan, Stick Season - https://youtu.be/iWG6apzIWAk?si=EBS0Ll7biACsxNob

Inside Out - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2096673/

Job 38-42

Research:

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/why_trees_can_make_you_happier#:~:text=Those%20who%20gazed%20at%20a,break%20from%20our%20frenzied%20lifestyles.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494424000987#:~:text=In%20everyday%20life%2C%20people%20are,et%20al.%2C%202019).