The Nourishing Energy of Nature: When Science Catches Up to What We Feel（ En-Cn）
I was reading an article, and one sentence captured my attention for several days. Perhaps this is because, living in China, the idea of energy is quite familiar and often used in our daily language and life:
“Nature emits a nourishing energy—a momentary suspension of stress, worries, and internal conflict.”
— Michel Le Van Quyen*
I believe every one of us has experienced this. And if not, I would be more than happy to connect and listen to personal experiences.
The “nourishing energy” mentioned here is actually present in that quiet shift that happens the moment we step outside—onto a forest path, into a park, or even onto a balcony touched by sunlight. Our breath steadies. Our shoulders soften. The mind’s constant chatter begins to fade.
It is as if nature gives us a brief permission slip to stop carrying everything we carry.
I feel that Michel Le Van Quyen captures its essence beautifully. This specific quote highlights a core theme in his philosophy: the ability of the natural environment to provide a calming, centering force that momentarily alleviates the burdens of modern life—a nourishing energy that dissolves, even for a moment, the internal noise of modern living.
What is most interesting is that today, neuroscience is beginning to explain why.
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What the Brain Does When We Step Into Nature
For decades, researchers have studied the impact of natural environments on the human mind. Their findings reveal something profound: nature changes the brain in measurable, restorative ways.
1. Stress Circuits Quiet Down
Many studies, such as those by Marc Berman (University of Chicago)**, show that time spent in nature reduces mental fatigue and softens activity in the brain’s stress centers. Even a short walk among trees calms the nervous system in ways urban environments simply do not.
2. The “Overthinking Network” Switches Off
Research led by Gregory Bratman*** (University of Washington) demonstrates that natural settings reduce activity in the Default Mode Network—the part of the brain responsible for:
• rumination
• self-criticism
• looping thoughts
• worry
In other words, nature loosens the grip of the inner monologue.
3. The Prefrontal Cortex Rests and Resets
The pioneering work of Stephen and Rachel Kaplan****, professors of psychology at the University of Michigan and creators of Attention Restoration Theory, explains why clarity returns outdoors. Nature engages us with soft fascination—gentle stimuli like rustling leaves, flowing water, or the movement of clouds—giving the prefrontal cortex a chance to recover from constant digital and cognitive demands.
4. Creativity and Insight Rise
Neuroscientist David Strayer***** has shown that extended immersion in nature boosts creativity, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. It is no coincidence that solutions often arrive during walks, hikes, or moments spent looking at the horizon.
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Why Nature Feels Nourishing
Nature’s rhythms speak directly to our biology:
• patterns in leaves and branches soothe the visual system
• natural sounds regulate breathing
• fresh air activates the parasympathetic nervous system
• open spaces restore a sense of perspective
These is what my coaching clients’ feedback to me when connecting with Nature during the session and aftrward.
The result is a felt experience of relief—a temporary suspension of the internal conflict we live with daily.
That is why we don’t escape ourselves in nature.
We return to ourselves.
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Bringing Nature Into Daily Life
As I say people asking how they can find some release in Nature, we don’t need a mountain retreat to feel these effects. Gifting ourselves even one mindful pause, with the intention of being with nature, is already a great achievement—especially when living in big cities. Small, consistent doses create meaningful change:
• 10 minutes of walking outside daily
• spending lunch in a green space
• adding plants or natural textures to your work environment
• watching the sky at sunrise or sunset
• listening to forest or ocean soundscapes
The questions is : are we willing to make space for a pause and connect ?
A Closing Thought
My personal reflection on what Michel Le Van Quyen describes goes beyond poetic beauty—it speaks to how simple it can be to be human if we just step into nature with the wise intention of connecting.
Nature offers us a nourishing energy that both ancient wisdom and modern neuroscience now affirm as necessary for us to exist, live consciously, and regenerate.
In those simple moments outdoors—brief yet transformative—stress softens, worries grow quiet, and inner conflict clears just enough for us to breathe fully again.
Nature doesn’t just surround us.
It regenerate us.
REFLECTIONS
—How do you partner up with NATURE to regenerate yourself ?
—knwowing how much science confirms the benefits of receiving the “energy of nature”, what will you do differently next time you find yourself out of balance?
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⸻Article created with the support of AI-assisted research.
⸻Bibliography
* “Nature emits a nourishing energy—a momentary suspension of stress, worries, and internal conflict.”
Likely from Cerveau et nature : pourquoi nous avons besoin de la beauté du monde
(Brain and Nature: Why We Need the Beauty of the World)
** Marc Berman — Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology, University of Chicago; involved in Cognition, Social, and Integrative Neuroscience programs.
*** Gregory Bratman — Director of the Environment and Well-Being Lab; Assistant Professor, UW College of the Environment.
**** Stephen and Rachel Kaplan — Professors of Psychology, University of Michigan; specialists in environmental psychology; creators of Attention Restoration Theory.
***** David Strayer — Professor, University of Utah; Director of the Applied Cognition Laboratory. His work examines human attention, multitasking limits, and how interaction with nature restores attentional capacity.
自然的滋养能量：当科学终于追上我们的感受
我最近读到一篇文章，其中一句话让我反复思索了好几天。或许是因为生活在中国，“能量”这个概念早已融入我们的日常语言与生活：
“自然散发着滋养的能量——它让压力、焦虑与内心冲突获得片刻止息。。”
——米歇尔·勒凡·奎因*
我相信每个人都曾体验过这样的时刻。若您尚未有此感受，我很乐意与您交流，聆听您的亲身经历。
这种“滋养能量”其实就蕴藏在我们迈出户外的那个静谧瞬间——踏上林间小径，走进城市公园，或是踏上洒满阳光的阳台。我们的呼吸逐渐平稳，肩膀自然放松，脑海中喧嚣的杂念开始消散。
仿佛自然赐予我们一张短暂的通行证，准许我们暂且卸下所有负重。
我认为米歇尔·勒凡·奎因精准捕捉到了这种体验的本质。这句引言揭示了他哲学思想的核心主题：自然环境具有提供镇静与凝聚力量的能力，能暂时缓解现代生活的重压——这种滋养能量能消融（哪怕是片刻）现代生活滋生的内心杂音。
最有趣的是，如今的神经科学正在逐步揭示其背后的原理。
**当我们走进自然时，大脑的变化**
数十年来，研究者们持续探索自然环境对人类心智的影响。他们的发现揭示了一个深刻现象：自然能以可测量的修复性方式改变大脑。
1. **压力回路的静默**
多项研究（如芝加哥大学马克·伯曼的研究**）表明，身处自然能减轻精神疲劳，抑制大脑压力中枢的活跃度。即便只是在林间短暂漫步，其对神经系统的安抚效果也是城市环境无法企及的。
2. **“过度思考网络”的关闭**
华盛顿大学格雷戈里·布拉特曼***的研究证实，自然环境会降低默认模式网络（DMN）的活跃度。这个脑区主要负责：
• 反复回味
• 自我批判
• 循环思绪
• 焦虑担忧
换言之，自然能松动内在独白的钳制。
3. **前额叶皮层的休整与重启**
密歇根大学心理学教授、注意力恢复理论创始人斯蒂芬·卡普兰与蕾切尔·卡普兰****的开拓性研究，解释了为何在户外人们会重获思维清晰感。自然通过“柔性吸引”——如沙沙作响的树叶、潺潺流水、浮云流转等温和刺激——让前额叶皮层得以从持续的数字与认知负荷中恢复生机。
4. **创造力与洞察力的提升**
神经科学家大卫·斯特雷耶*****的研究表明，长时间沉浸自然能显著增强创造力、问题解决能力与情绪调节能力。灵感常在徒步、远足或凝望地平线时涌现，这绝非偶然。
**为何自然令人感到滋养**
自然的韵律与我们的生理机制直接共鸣：
• 枝叶的纹理抚慰视觉系统
• 自然之声调节呼吸节奏
• 新鲜空气激活副交感神经
• 开阔空间重塑认知视角
这一切最终凝结为一种切实的解脱体验——那些日常伴随我们的内心冲突获得短暂停歇。
因此，我们并非在自然中逃避自我，
而是**回归本真**。
**将自然融入日常生活**
无需远赴深山幽谷，我们也能感受自然的馈赠。在大城市生活中，哪怕只是怀着与自然联结的意愿，给自己一次专注的停顿，已是宝贵的自我馈赠。微小而持续的接触便能带来深刻改变：
• 每日户外步行10分钟
• 在绿意环绕中用午餐
• 在工作环境增添绿植或自然材质
• 观赏日出日落的天空
• 聆听森林或海洋的白噪音
⸻**结语沉思**
我对米歇尔·勒凡·奎因描述的体悟，超越了诗意的美感——它揭示了一个朴素真理：当我们怀着联结的智慧踏入自然，回归人类本真可以如此简单。
自然馈赠的滋养能量，无论古老智慧还是现代神经科学都证实：这是我们存在、清醒生活并重焕生机所必需的养分。
在那些短暂却深刻的户外时刻里——压力渐消，忧思渐静，内心冲突如晨雾散开，我们终于能再度畅快呼吸。
自然不只环绕着我们，更在疗愈着我们
静思时刻
—— 你如何与自然“携手”，重获内在新生？
—— 既然已知科学证实了汲取“自然能量”的诸多裨益，当下一次感到身心失衡时，你打算做出哪些不同的选择？
欢迎在此留言或通过私信分享你的经历。也欢迎预约一次免费评估通话，让我们共同探讨。
*本文在人工智能辅助研究支持下完成创作*