Walking through nature can help you discover who you really are, new study reveals

Nature has always brought peace when humans feel cramped in a chaotic and fast-paced world. Whether it be the sound waves crashing on the shore, birds chirping, or a simple walk in the woods, the impact and comfort nature brings is a renewed sense of self. But did you know that this feeling of nature helping us influence our deeper self has been proven scientifically? In a new study published by Joha Järekari et al. of the University of Turku on August 13, it has been found that one can boost their mood and achieve a clear sense of self by spending time with nature.

The research, which was carried out by inviting 158 residents of Turku, Finland, shares how nature shapes their real lives and how it relates to their self-worth and purpose in life. Later, 20 participants joined writing workshops to share personal stories about nature's impact on them. The researchers then combined the survey with real-life stories by capturing both overall patterns and deeper personal insights. Joha Järekari, a Doctoral Researcher, revealed that the goal of the study was to understand how nature helps people find purpose, accept themselves, build strong relationships, make their own choices, feel in control of their lives, and manage everyday challenges.

The researcher then goes on to explain the term eudaimonic well-being, a psychological term that refers to the feeling of knowing about your purpose, self-acceptance, growth, and relationships. “This is called eudaimonic well-being, and it can be considered in contrast to hedonism: whereas hedonism focuses on short-term pleasures, eudaimonia delves into longer and deeper well-being," Järekari told earth.com. The study was conducted on two age groups: one consisting of residents aged 15-24 and the other comprising those over 60. Although the hypothesis was to find how different life stages have different needs, the study's outcome outlines that nature felt nonjudgmental to both. “Although there were some differences between the different age groups in how they spent time in nature and in what kinds of places, they also had many shared experiences,” Järekari revealed. 

The study also noted that being outdoors helped people feel closer to friends and family, while also widening their sense of community with other living creatures. "This increased people’s agency and autonomy and had a positive impact on personal growth. The participants reported that it was easier to get in touch with oneself, with other people, and with other species,” Järekari noted. Among the older adults, there was also awareness in moments of spirituality, while among the young leaned towards healthy solitude. Interestingly, some participants, as per the researchers, had a sense of worry for the environmental damage and were ashamed of being a part of the problem by virtue of being humans.

Researchers also noted that the way urban spaces are designed matters, as people require calmness with trees, pathways to think, build, and feel responsible. Similarly, a study by Lin Zhang et al. in 2021 examined how specific parks featuring lush greenery impact physical, mental, and social well-being. Studying 440 park users, the research noted improved signs in heart and skin-related medical issues. The study's outcome closely aligns with the Turku research study on how urban nature helps the flourishing of human well-being.

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