Cómo entrar en el estado de 'fascinación suave' y sanación profunda

When we get closer to nature -be it untouched wilderness or a backyard tree-we do our overstressed brains a favor. – David Strayer

Our minds have become busier than ever before. We are constantly bombarded with facts and pseudo-facts, rumors, and news. The modern world we live in forces us to be switched on all the time, which can be quite detrimental to our health. We often feel overwhelmed, confused, and fed up.

You probably know what I’m talking about – that feeling of cotton wool inside your head. A kind of brain fog that makes even the simplest activities hard to perform. Nowadays, we are more tired, forgetful, and preoccupied with needless worries over the same old issues without having a break. However, the capacity of our minds to concentrate is limited, and overdoing it inevitably results in physical and mental (attention) fatigue.

Attention Fatigue

Let’s do a small experiment: take a flashlight and point it at a wall. If you walk towards it holding the flashlight, the light will contract. The closer you get, the more concentrated the light beam will be. Once you come to an inch from the wall, the beam of light will become a tight, bright circle.

Our attention is a lot like this light beam. We can either focus it intensely on something or relax it, allowing it to diffuse. According to one research into various types of attention, it was established that some kinds of attention could tire our brains and contribute to rising stress, anxiety, and other health issues. On the other hand, activities that soften and broaden our attention can reinvigorate our brains and promote cognitive and psychological well-being.

Whenever we direct our attention on something, it requires effort. Even more, an effort is needed when we deal with distractions or a boring subject. As the aforementioned research points out, our attention can wear out, and when that happens, a lot can go wrong. For example, our ability to concentrate declines, as well as our willpower and decision-making abilities. Attention fatigue can also cause stress and burnout.

The bustling urban environment in which we live, multitasking, loud noises, distractions, and poor sleep also promote attention fatigue. Contrary to this, some activities can reinvigorate our brains in a way that supports directed attention, and one of the most effective of these is spending time in nature.

Soft Fascination

According to one study, what makes the natural environment so restorative is the mix of attracting involuntary attention softly and at the same time limiting the need for directed attention. Nature seems to hit that sweet spot. This state is called soft fascination.

Soft fascination can be defined as attention held by a less active or stimulating activity that provides the opportunity to reflect

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