A Simple Way to Help Anxiety...

Summer is nearly here! How lovely it is when we have warm sunny weather! It is so refreshing to see the change of the seasons - from the delicate blossom on the trees in spring, to the cheerful springing up of flowers. It is so calming, peaceful and relaxing to be outside and hear lots of beautiful birdsong.

In this week's blog post, I thought I would focus on the topic of nature - God's Creation. Also, later on we will look out how being outside can help anxiety.

Firstly, to begin with let's briefly look at some Bible verses about creation.

In Genesis 1 and 2, we read about how everything all began - God created the earth and mankind upon it. In Gen 1:1 we read: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Following this in Genesis 1, we see how God created all the different aspects of the heavens and earth in 6 days, before he rested on the 7th day.

God's creation truly is beautiful and so intricately designed - everything in creation works together in perfect harmony. We see this throughout Psalm 104, and we also see in this chapter how God has created the earth in this way, to ensure that all his creation is cared for. In verse 14 of this chapter, we see an example of this where we read: "He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;"

Here we see that God has created the grass to provide food for the cattle, and also he has created many other plants which have produce which we can eat for food.

Going back to how beautiful God's creation is, in Psalm 19:1 we read - "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork."

Also, in Gen 1:31 we read: "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day."

So we see from these verses that God's creation is beautiful, it reflects his glory, shows his wonderful handywork, and it is "very good". We have also seen today how God cares for his creation, and how everything works together in harmony.

So finally, how can being outside surrounded by God's creation help anxiety? When we are outside in a scenic, countryside environment this aids relaxation. Watching nature, looking at the flowers, listening to birdsong and looking around you at the beautiful scenery, is relaxing and peaceful. Due to this atmosphere being peaceful and still rather than the hustle and bustle of a city, it is very calming. In addition, being outside helps us to gain Vitamin D from the sun! Vitamin D has a variety of benefits for our body, including helping to boost our mood.

When we feel anxious, being in a scenic and peaceful place can help as it gives us some quiet time away from the stresses of life. Often having a break, and being in a different environment for a while and then coming back home, can help you to feel refreshed, and therefore better able to deal with life's challenges with a clearer head. Sometimes just having a change of scenery can really help your mood.

Which is your favourite calming place to visit? Why not try to go out for a lovely scenic walk today, to help boost your mood and give yourself some calm time outside, looking at God's beautiful creation... In addition, you could also sit outside in the sunshine and meditate on some encouraging Bible verses - my NEW journal is perfect to help you with this. For more information or to order a copy of the journal take a look at the "Journals" section on this website.

If you would like to learn more about God's creation, this is a topic I look at in both of my self-help books - "Casting all your care upon him..." In book 1 on day 7, and in book 2 on day 309, there are two fun projects for you to complete, based on creation. For more information or to order a copy of my books, take a look at the "Self-help books" section on this website.