Have you ever considered how the décor in our homes impacts our thoughts? Some days our blessings are kidnapped by the stresses of daily living. We need to create a safe, encouraging haven in our home. Being outside in nature has proven to be a major mood enhancer. We can enhance our décor by bringing elements of the outdoors inside. That means surrounding ourselves with the sights and sounds of nature. Our thought life can also be nurtured by favorite quotes. They send us positive thoughts as our eyes brush over them. How can we incorporate nature in our home and nurture our thought-lives?
The images below are sample items to consider. Click on the image to go shopping.
The Sights of Nature
There’s no substitute for immersing ourselves in nature. It improves moods. In Nurtured by Nature, the American Psychological Association found that “…people who had spent at least two recreational hours in nature [per week] during the previous week reported significantly greater health and well-being.” So, be sure to relax and reduce stress naturally by getting outdoors.
There are times we just don’t go outside, for one reason or another. Looking out the window and absorbing the natural sunlight has some benefit. (Rooms without windows are soooo detrimental.) That’s where we really need to bring the outdoors in. Nature-themed photographs can create a “window” to the outside world. Choose places you’ve been, places you’d like to visit, tall mountains, quiet woods scenes, ocean sunsets, beautiful wildlife. Whatever attracts you and soothes your soul. When you’re stuck inside, be sure to bring the outdoors in.
Explore more nature photography at Art by Smiths .
The Sounds of Nature
Life can be filled with so much unwanted noise: people talking, blaring radios, news channels, mechanical noises…you name it. It’s not only the sights of nature that relax, it’s also nature’s music.
Ruth Thomas puts it this way: “The sound of birdsong, wind rustling through the trees and crashing ocean waves all have the extraordinary power to induce tranquility and relaxation. Studies have shown that listening to natural sounds alters our brain’s connections. It…enhances our mental health and well-being. 1
Playing nature videos on a large screen is really soothing. Let them be a background as you work in the house or read a book or visit with company. Nature Sounds TV provides a variety of videos. They are 4K UHD videos from Northern Norway, with the sounds of birds singing, rivers flowing, waves crashing, and much more. These landscape videos are recorded on his hikes through all four seasons of the year.”
Nurturing Our Thought Life
Some days we get stuck in our own heartaches and stress. Negative emotions commandeer our minds; and become a self-defeating commentary. Keep quotes that inspire you close at hand where your eyes brush over them frequently.
Inspirational quotes tune our mental radio to healthy perspectives. They are natural mental medicine to the news and the hard times in life. They help us shift perspectives and perceive things differently. They create an optimistic or “silver lining” mindset. Quotes on the walls are gentle reminders to smile more often and reinforce positive thought processes. Find quotes that have impact on your life. That bring you back “home” to the place you need to stay.
“The best cure for [the] blues is reading lots of quotes to inspire you on a daily basis as they will definitely lift your spirits, and it’s certainly much cheaper than visiting a psychologist to build a positive psychology!” states Elle Smith. 2 Truth! The self-talk we choose determines the weather we carry inside: sunny, cloudy, stormy.3 What’s it Like in Your Town is short, powerful story about how carry our thoughts and attitudes with us no matter where we go. Well worth the two-minutes to read.
As you sit on your couch or work at your desk, inspirational quotes become your daily inspiration and anchor. They can be small accents in places you notice. It might be beside a cozy chair or at the kitchen sink. The bathroom is always a place of contemplation! It could be small wall décor or a large focal point like a triptych. Create space by removing wall décor that has become less favored. Let the wall space blank for a while and look for what you really love.
Faith-Based Thoughts:
Paul, an apostle who was beaten, stoned, and survived three shipwrecks had this to say on thought life:
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Philippians 4:8 (The Message)
Dwell on These Things is a short video on the passage above. The wonderful videography puts beautiful images to the “squiggly black ant” words that you just read.
Conclusion
How will you bring nature inside and nurture your thought life? It could be small and intimate space: a cozy chair by a window with a collection of seashells and a favorite quote. How about some nature prints or words on the walls? Large triptychs create wonderful focal points. Try some music channels that capitalize on the sounds of nature. Integrate nature and foster a positive thought life in ways that work for you.
About Me, the Writer
I play with nature, photographing my backyard birds and critters in ways you’ve never seen them before! I create little gardens and scenery for the birds. Sometimes quotes are added to the photographs. I’ve found quotes on nature photographs are a peaceful, powerful combination.
My husband and I travel to craft shows with my photography. The people who visit our booth come in all shapes and sizes and ages with one thing in common: They quietly smile as the contemplate AzarÉl Greetings photography. Why? We’ve created an oasis in a world that’s thirsty for encouragement.
Check out the surprising photography of AzarÉl Greetings at AzarElGreetings.com
1 Weir, Kirsten. Nurtured by Nature: Psychological research is advancing our understanding of how time in nature can improve our mental health and sharpen our cognition: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature
2 Thomas, Ruth. Nature’s Symphony: The benefits of natural sounds
3 Smith, Elle. Why Motivational Quotes are Important for Everyone
4 What’s it Like in Your Town – A short, powerful story about how carry our thoughts and attitudes with us no matter where we go. Well worth the two-minutes to read.
Giclée Canvas print, three panel triptych, 20" x 33" (w/ 3/4" gaps)
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
| 3000 Left in Stock | ||
Original Photography
Click here to see how our canvas prints are made.
Original Photography
Original Photography
Giclée Canvas print, 20” x 30”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
Click here to see how our canvas prints are made.
| 1000 Left in Stock | ||
Original Photography
| 997 Left in Stock | ||
Giclée Canvas print, 20” x 30”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
Click here to see how our canvas prints are made.
| 3000 Left in Stock | ||
Original Photography
Original Photography
Original Photography
| 999 Left in Stock | ||
Giclée Canvas print, 16” x 24”
Original Photography, printed and hand stretched by AzarÉl Greetings.
Click here to see how our canvas prints are made.
| 1000 Left in Stock | ||
Original Photography
| 1000 Left in Stock | ||
