An Introduction to Biophilia
14 Tips for healing your emotions through plants, animals, and AI
In my work as a coach and mentor I have a great interest in helping people to heal mentally, emotionally, and physically through nature. This process is called Biophilia.
The word Biophilia originates from the Greek, ‘philia’ meaning ‘love of’. It literally means a love of life or living things. Humans have a deeply ingrained love of nature which is an intuitive and natural drive imprinted into our DNA.
If you suffer from CUSD (chronic unhappiness, sadness, and depression) you are not alone, and there is hope. The solution may be in a Biophilia oriented daily routine.
Often people aren’t necessarily depressed, though they are diagnosed as such. Actually they may be chronic sadness, or unhappiness. Often these states are triggered by specific factors and can also be reduced by other specific factors.
Many helping professionals who sincerely want to help their loved ones, patients and clients to truly heal from these emotionally painful and often debilitating states, have never gone deep into these specific factors. My goal here is to offer permanent relief in ways that may not have been considered.
Rather than speaking of depression, I use the acronym CUSD, meaning chronic unhappiness, sadness, and depression.
I have personally experienced a deep, seemingly never-ending CUSD — fatigue daily sadness, misery, and hopelessness, so I get it.
I have found in my own life that being around nature, specifically plants and animals, even videos of nature can life my spirits almost automatically.
Knowing this, I developed an interest in Biophilia, what experts call a hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature. A desire or tendency to commune with nature.
Biophilic design is used by many interior and building designers to describe the application, of biophilia concepts in buildings. Still, any of us can use the concept to connect with nature, as part of the spaces in an office or I our living space. Empaths really like being in these kinds of spaces.
Let’s start big and work our way to the individual.
“Biophilic design is an idea applied within the building industry to increase the ways occupants connect on all levels to the natural environment through the use of both space, place conditions, direct nature, and indirect nature. It is proposed that this idea has health, environmental, and economic benefits for building occupants and urban environments, with few drawbacks. Although it is a relatively new name, indicators of biophilic design have been part of architecture reaching as far back as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.”
The Origins of Biophilia Hypothesis
The word “Biophilia” was first introduced by a psychoanalyst named Erich Fromm who stated that biophilia is the “passionate love of life and of all that is alive…whether in a person, a plant, an idea, or a social group” in his book The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness in 1973. Fromm’s approach didn’t focus entirely on the natural world. He presented the idea as a broad spectrum of idea, and behaviors as he called biophilia a biologically normal instinct.
The term has been used in many ways by philosophers and scientists, and has been adapted to several different domains of study.
For our purposes the most notable mentions of biophilia are in Edward O. Wilson’s book Biophilia (1984) where he took a biologist’s approach and first coined the “Biophilia hypothesis”, popularizing the notion.
Wilson described biophilia as “the innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes”. Wilson claimed a link with nature is not only physiological (as Fromm earlier suggested) but has a genetic basis. The biophilia hypothesis is the concept that humans have an inherited need to connect to nature and other biotic forms due to our evolutionary dependence on it for both personal fulfillment, and survival.
Wilson’s idea is relevant in all aspects of daily life.
humans travel and spend money to sightsee in national parks and nature preserves, relax on beaches, hike mountains, and explore jungles. Further, many sports revolve around nature such as skiing, mountain biking, and surfing. From a home perspective, people are more likely to spend more on houses that have views of nature; buyers are willing to spend more money on homes with excellent landscaping, or that look at water, or are on waterfront. Humans also value companionship with animals.
Here are some simple tips on how to bring more nature into your thoughts, actions, and surrounding spaces.
- If possible schedule watching nature videos through the day.
- Buy a Sugar Glider- A tiny mammal that is soft, gentle, easy to care for and very cute. They are lively, inquisitive, playful, and intelligent. Socialized sugar gliders enjoy cuddling and often will curl up in the safety of a shirt pocket. If given lots of attention, they will bond with their owners.
- Consider animals that live longer than humans. Certain reptiles (Turtles, snakes, etc.) and parrot-like creatures. Here is a list of the top domestic bird species.
4. Build an ant farm.
5. Build a terrarium.
6. Use plant oils in the house.
7. Get a big screen TV and show animal planet videos all day.
8. Build an outdoor garden
9. Build an indoor garden
10. Study medicinal herbs
11. Become a wildcrafter (also known as foraging this is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or ‘wild’ habitat, primarily for food or medicinal purposes.
12. Take a class in birdwatching (Good human social interaction as well)
13. Build an indoor Japanese Garden
14. Get DVDs or down load nature sounds — here is one
The Origins of Biophilia Hypothesis
The word “Biophilia” was first introduced by a psychoanalyst named Erich Fromm who stated that biophilia is the “passionate love of life and of all that is alive…whether in a person, a plant, an idea, or a social group” in his book The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness in 1973. Fromm’s approach didn’t focus entirely on the natural world. He presented the idea as a broad spectrum of idea, and behaviors as he called biophilia a biologically normal instinct.
The term has been used in many ways by philosophers and scientists, and has been adapted to several different domains of study.
For our purposes the most notable mentions of biophilia are in Edward O. Wilson’s book Biophilia (1984) where he took a biologist’s approach and first coined the “Biophilia hypothesis”, popularizing the notion.
Wilson described biophilia as “the innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes”. Wilson claimed a link with nature is not only physiological (as Fromm earlier suggested) but has a genetic basis. The biophilia hypothesis is the concept that humans have an inherited need to connect to nature and other biotic forms due to our evolutionary dependence on it for both personal fulfillment, and survival.
Wilson’s idea is relevant in all aspects of daily life.
humans travel and spend money to sightsee in national parks and nature preserves, relax on beaches, hike mountains, and explore jungles. Further, many sports revolve around nature such as skiing, mountain biking, and surfing. From a home perspective, people are more likely to spend more on houses that have views of nature; buyers are willing to spend more money on homes with excellent landscaping, or that look at water, or are on waterfront. Humans also value companionship with animals.
Here are some simple tips on how to bring more nature into your thoughts, actions, and surrounding spaces.
Here are some ideas on how to influence CUSD (unhappiness, sadness, and depression).
· If possible schedule watching nature videos through the day.
· Buy a Sugar Glider- A tiny mammal that is soft, gentle, easy to care for and very cute. They are lively, inquisitive, playful, and intelligent. Socialized sugar gliders enjoy cuddling and often will curl up in the safety of a shirt pocket. If given lots of attention, they will bond with their owners.
· Consider animals that live longer than humans. Certain reptiles (Turtles, snakes, etc.) and parrot-like creatures. Here is a list of the top domestic bird species. https://www.thesprucepets.com/top-friendly-pet-bird-species-390535
· Build an ant farm.
· Build a terrarium.
· Use plant oils in the house.
· Get a big screen TV and show animal planet videos all day.
· Build an outdoor garden
· Build an indoor garden
· Study medicinal herbs
· Become a wildcrafter (also known as foraging this is the practice of harvesting plants from their natural, or ‘wild’ habitat, primarily for food or medicinal purposes.
· Take a class in birdwatching (Good human social interaction as well)
· Build an indoor Japanese Garden
· Get DVDs or down load nature sounds — here is one
The Takeaway
Our surrounding environment clearly can have a substantial effect on our brain chemistry, and our emotions. A consistent biophilia based routine can often make the difference between a life of CUSD and one of happiness and contentment.
This story is a Module from my personalized online course, Healing Depression Naturally. No cookie cutter or AI. Just you and me! To learn more about studying with me, email me at [email protected]
Here is a Medium story on this subject @vishal-ai
Here is one from the archives @LewisCoaches
Learn more about my philosophy and extensive teachings here
Author: Lewis Harrison is a Manifestation Coach, professional futurist (forecaster), and a philanthropy consultant. He is the creator of the Ask Lewis Mentoring Method as well as HAGT — Harrison’s Applied Game Theory. He is the Executive Director of the International Association of Healing Professionals an educational organization that offers programs around the world in Intentional Living. He is also Independent Scholar, with a passion for knowledge, personal development, self-improvement, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. You can read all of his Medium stories at [email protected].
For a decade, Lewis was the host of a humor-based Q & A talk show on NPR (National Public Radio) affiliated WIOX FM in NY.
Lewis Administers, many free communities (Groups) on Facebook. Please join us.
The Self Improvement Lifestyle,
Eastern Mystic Wisdom,
Futurist Community (An exploration of applied game theory)
Wisdom Path Community.
Get a free ebook filled with tips and technique for self improvement at AskLewis.com
Join and subscribe to our free Self-improvement Community and get a free Ebook of self-improvement strategies. Here you will receive a daily tip filled newsletter, advanced courses, educational videos, and inspiring personal development stories…
Just Click Below to subscribe for free…