Rumination and the Quieting of the Mind

“In the presence of nature, a wild delight runs through the man.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of the most difficult parts of depression is rumination - repetitive, looping thoughts that are hard to interrupt.

A 2015 Stanford study found that participants who walked for 90 minutes in a natural setting showed decreased activity in the subgenual prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with rumination and depression. Those who walked in urban environments did not show the same reduction.

In simple terms: the brain’s “loop center” quieted in nature.

This doesn’t mean the thoughts disappear.

But the intensity softens. Nature offers “soft fascination”, a term used in Attention Restoration Theory. The mind is gently engaged by leaves moving, water flowing, light shifting. It holds attention without demanding analysis.

And when the brain is not forced to concentrate or defend, it recovers.

For someone caught in overthinking, that recovery is not small.

Journal Prompts

If you are so inclined ... writing about your emotions and needs has been proven to be beneficial in helping to gain peace and alleviate stress. There’s no right way to answer.

When my thoughts start looping, what environment am I usually in?

What might it look like to take my thinking outside instead of trying to solve it indoors?

Videos & Books

If quiet moments might help you reset, or if you are unable to get to a natural setting, here are some YouTube channels focused on nature, including my own, The Nature Break. Also included are some books on the benefits and beauty of nature.

YouTube Nature Channels:

• Primal Earth: Long-format aerial videos of the Earth. Beautiful visuals.

• The Nature Break: Nature walks set to quiet music, short duration 2- 4 minutes

Books:

• Listening to the Land by Derrick Jensen

• The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry

Featured Video:
Please enjoy this video from the Nature Break…

Comments

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