Gardening and being out in nature can be an amazing way to heal. Due to its many benefits, gardens are now popping up in prison yards, retirement and veteran homes and troubled youth programs. Gardening is even used in many places as a type of extension of therapy for people with post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety. It can also be something we can bring into our own lives to help heal heartbreak.
Here are four reasons why you should try gardening after a breakup:
1) Looking after plants gives us a sense of responsibility
Having to care for plants and being responsible for their growth is a great way to shift the focus, look outside of ourselves and respect other living things. It makes us appreciate how amazing nature can be.
2) Gardening shows us that we can all be nurturers
Going through heartbreak can leave us feeling inadequate, incomplete and even incapable. Gardening and caring for plants and nature brings home the fact that we are all capable; no matter what flaws we believe we might have.
3) It’s relaxing
Flowers are beautiful to look at. They signify life, beauty, uniqueness and colour. They have no emotions or conflict and being around them and caring for them allows us to connect to that carefree energy. There’s nothing else to worry about when you’re so immersed. Plus the actual act of weeding, trimming, sowing and sweeping can be meditative and soothing. Many people say that gardening helps them suddenly find new perspectives.
4) Being around plants and flowers reminds us that nothing stays the same
So often we don’t want things to change and we get fixated on how things used to be; particularly during heartbreak. But being in nature can remind us that things aren’t supposed to stay the same and to embrace change with more ease. Flowers have their season of bloom and then they die so that new seeds can be planted. It can be a great reminder to live in the moment, be open to change and to know that things often happen exactly the way they’re supposed to in accordance with nature.
As they say, “keep calm and garden on.”
