It was early morning. After months of nonstop work, Reza had made his way to the foot of the mountain. He had no device with him, no specific goal. He just wanted to take a deep breath. He sat by a small stream, took off his shoes, and dipped his feet in the cool water. Suddenly he realized what he had done: for the first time in years, he was simply “being.” No mental calendar, no checking his phone. The wind was blowing and the sound of the water pushed aside every distracting thought. At that moment, a childhood memory came to his mind: his grandfather used to say, “Trees speak; you just have to be silent to hear them.” Reza smiled and closed his eyes. He didn’t know what effect this silence and presence would have on his mind and soul. He only felt that something inside him was opening up.
Recharge Your Tired Mind with Gentle Stimulation
When Reza worked for hours in front of a screen, his brain was constantly in a state of “directed attention” – the same state needed for problem-solving and deep focus, but one that gets tired very quickly. In nature, however, things are different. Leaves moving in the wind, clouds floating slowly, the sound of water – all are “gentle stimuli” that engage the mind without pressure. This is called “involuntary attention,” which, according to restoration theory, recharges the brain’s depleted battery[1]. In that one hour by the stream, without even knowing it, Reza allowed his parasympathetic nervous system to activate and his stress hormone levels to drop[2]. The result? His concentration in daily tasks doubled after that day.
Become a Participant, Not a Spectator, with All Five Senses
If Reza had only looked at the scenery while scrolling through his phone, none of this would have happened. What made the difference was “nature-based mindfulness.” That means sitting under a tree and touching its rough bark, smelling the wet soil, hearing the crickets, and tasting the fresh air. This is the “full five senses” technique, which pulls the mind out of scattered thoughts about the past and future and anchors it firmly in the “here and now”[3]. The more you engage your senses, the deeper the connection becomes. Reza made it a habit to spend a few minutes on this exercise every time he went to the mountains. Gradually he learned that nature should not be seen only with the eyes.
A Small Pot, a Great School of Patience
Another way Reza bonded with nature was through growing plants. Not necessarily a large garden; just a pot of basil on the windowsill. Regular watering, pruning yellow leaves, watching a new seed sprout. These may seem simple, but they bring inner order to life. Reza says: “When I see that a seed takes time to grow, I remember that I too need patience for my own growth.”[4] Growing plants is a practical exercise in accepting natural cycles; that sometimes you must fall to grow again.
Nature, a Mirror for the Inner Self
One of Reza’s deepest experiences came when he realized that nature was showing him something that was also flowing within himself. Leaves fall in autumn, but they sprout again in spring. This cycle is the best image of “renewal” and acceptance of endings. Reza, who had been running from an emotional failure for years, sat under an old plane tree and understood that falling is also a part of life[5]. Without saying a word, nature taught him to be flexible and not to fear change.
When You Lose Yourself in the Grandeur of the World
The last time Reza reached the peak, the sky was clear and thousands of stars were shining. It was there that a “sublime experience” came to him; a moment when one feels part of something much greater than oneself. This sense of grandeur pushes aside all the small daily worries and leaves behind a deep peace[6]. That night, Reza returned home with tearful eyes. Not from sorrow, but from wonder. He understood that connecting with nature is not a pastime; it is an innate need that ties a person to the very roots of their existence.
Sources
[1] Kaplan, S. (2018). Attention Restoration Theory. Translated by Hossein Farhadi. Tehran: Psychology Publishing.
[2] Rezaei, A. (2020). The Effect of Nature on Reducing Stress Hormones. Journal of Environmental Psychology, Volume 8, Issue 2.
[3] Kabat-Zinn, J. (2021). Mindfulness in Nature. Translated by Narges Hosseini. Tehran: Danesh Publishing.
[4] Louv, A. (2019). Gardening and Mental Health. Translated by Saeed Madani. Tehran: Health Publications.
[5] Motahhari, M. (2005). A Look at Creation. Tehran: Sadra Publications.
[6] Karimi, M. (2022). Sublime Experience and Mental Health. Quarterly of Positive Psychology, Volume 5, Issue 2.
