PSYCHOLOGY TODAY | This summer, researchers at the University of Derby in the UK published research showing that humanity’s connection to nature has declined by more than 60 percent since 1800.

In her latest article, Kim Samuel makes the case that nature is essential to our experience of belonging. When we’re detached from our physical surroundings, a growing body of research shows that it’s hard to maintain focus, to listen to other people, and to practice empathy.  Likewise, nature can offer us sensory richness and a sense of awe, which broadens our perspective and bolsters our sense of meaning.

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