numinous

Are you really satisfied with your romantic relationship? Just as satisfied as when you met that person? Research shows that if you’re younger than 40, the answer is probably a resounding “no.” In this study with over 165,000 participants, researchers found that your age more than the length of the relationship correlated with relationship satisfaction, and the lowest slump typically overlapped around 40 years old. The good news is that even at its lowest point, the average relationship satisfaction score was still 77 / 100, and there’s still plenty of opportunity in a committed relationship that lacks high satisfaction. Practice: Make a list of all the things you love about your partner to refer to on those tougher days. Know that it’s completely normal to be less satisfied at a point in your relationship. If you’re in the thick of it, you may find comfort knowing that it most likely will get better in future years! - 📸: @robwoodcoxphoto 📰: @greatergoodmag - #relationshipgoals #relationship_goals #relationshipexpert #relationshiphelp #couplesinlove #committed #partnerinlife #unsatisfied #lovesucks #thisis40 #humanconnection

💃🏾 Dance and movement therapy hold promise for treating anxiety and depression🕺 Did you know body movement reduces perceived stress, lowers inflammation, promotes brain health, and can even release trauma held in the body? A neuroscientist has been piloting dance therapy for child refugees for over five years and found that movement therapy can build up a child’s sense of self-worth, improve their ability to regulate their emotions and even empower them to overcome obstacles. The results of this and other movement practices such as yoga, Lana Grasser suggests, may be due to the use of intentional breath movement, activating the vagus nerve that coordinates several biological processes in the body. So get out there and dance! Practice: Try a YouTube or Peloton dance workout in the comfort of your own living room. Let your body move in new ways, but don’t blame us if you knock over your roommate’s lamp. - 📸: @foreveryoungdance 📰: @theconversationdotcom - #dance #dancing #movementtherapy #moveyourbody #moveyourbodyeveryday #danceworkout #dancetips #humanconnection

Much like Prozac and other depression-focused medications, a soil bacteria called mycobacterium vaccae has been found to increase serotonin in the brains of mice. While human studies have yet to confirm its benefits for our species, Craig Chalquist, the chair of the psychology department at the California Institute of Integral Studies claimed that if you hold moist soil for 20 minutes, the soil bacteria actually begin elevating your mood. Practice: At the risk of looking like a psychopath, we’re going to recommend you try your (bare) hand at gardening instead of sitting out on your front lawn with your hands full of dirt. Note any changes in your mood as you plunge your hands into the soil, then snap a pic and send us those dirty photos! - 📸: @thegrowingseasons 📰: @theatlantic - #soil #soilhealth #soilscience #gardeningtips #healthtipsoftheday #serotonin #serotoninboost #moodbooster #moodboost #humanconnection

We all know that smart person in the office. They always seem to have the right answers and you know no one’s going up against their objection to the new sales strategies for Q2. But how can you dig deeper and get to know what they’re really like? 🧠 Odds are, they’re probably not the most socially adept and would love to feel like part of the group. Remember they’re human too. Don’t make intellect the subject of the conversation, and instead, listen to what they have to say. Try mentioning activities you like to create space for them to share the things they like. Invite them out to a new restaurant or on a hike with other friends! When chatting, maintain your own opinions to show your individuality and be open to their needs. Be understanding of any quirks they make have and know that they may be using their intellect as a coping method for any insecurities. Remember why you wanted to be friends with them in the first place and don’t forget to be honest if a topic they bring up is a little out of your league. Practice: Challenge yourself to be a friend to all! Invite that smartie pants out to a museum and let the other aspects of their personality open up to you. - 📸: @quakermarine 📰: @wikihow - #einstein #smartfriends #smartie #intelligent #makingfriends #friendshipfriday #highiq #alberteinstein #humanconnection

Psychologist Rollo May noted, that death is “a fundamental characteristic of American culture.” But why do we struggle against it? ⚰️🪦 Studies have shown that more conscious awareness of death can: ☠️ Trigger deliberate evaluation of your personal goals ☠️ Increase your investment in goals intrinsically perceived as more meaningful to your life’s purpose ☠️ Cement your after-death beliefs ☠️ Make you more likely to adhere to their more positively framed cultural values; and ☠️ Seek more close relationships, offering a symbolic promise of continuity, lastingness, and death transcendence (Talk about a “soul” mate!) Practice: Meditate on your own death, the meaning of your full life, and all that you were able to accomplish. Then, make an actionable list of steps you can take to actually achieve those goals and seek support and accountability by sharing it with a loved one. - 📸 @fabiatom 📰 @psych_today - #death #funeralservice #funeral #dying #meditationpractice #contemplate #mindfulnesss #mindfulnesspractice #humanconnection

Have you been forest bathing? 🏞 Recent studies have proven that forest bathing lowers blood pressure, heart rates, and cortisol levels, quelling stress and positively impacting your sense of well-being. The key to forest bathing is to: 🌳 Carve 20 minutes out of your day 🌲 Limit your distractions 🌳 Live fully in the moment 🌲 Bathe your senses in nature; and 🌳 Walk slowly as you notice your surroundings Practice: Try microdosing on a little thing called nature. Take a slow intentional walk through your local park or plan a forest bathing trip! Soak in the airborne essential oils of the evergreen needles with certified forest therapy guides in the Adirondacks and take in the largest protected area of the contiguous United States. - 📸: @dall_vika 📰: @kpthrive - #forestbathing #forestbathingtherapy #forestbath #natureismedicine #adirondacks #adirondackstatepark #forestcore #forestvibes #surrealism #mindfulnesspractice #humanconnection

Danielle Bayard, a friendship coach and author, recommends tapping into your friends of friends network, putting your phone away to make conversation with people in public, and finding a hobby group you can commit to going to at least three times to make new friends. Ultimately, it’s about putting yourself out there and not cutting out people who aren’t exactly like you. Practice: Put your phone away in the grocery line this week and ask the person next to you how their day is going. Challenge yourself to be a little friendlier and feel confident knowing you’re on your way to widening your inner circle! - 📸: @karmanverdi 📰: @nbcnews - #makingfriends #friendship #friends #bumblebff #morefriends #authenticity #strangers #werenotreallystrangers #phoneaddiction #humanconnection

Can robotic dogs combat loneliness? We’ve all felt the pangs of loneliness at one point or another. Most likely, you tried to avoid admitting it to yourself, but you’re not alone… A study found that 22% of millennials reported having zero friends. So today, we’re sharing practices that have been proven to effectively combat social isolation: 💜 Robot dogs and seals 💜 Mindfulness and Tai Chi Qigong Meditation 💜 Laughter therapy 💜 Visual art discussion 💜 Reminiscence therapy 💜 Wii gaming 💜 Indoor gardening 💜 Video conferencing Practice: Get yourself a robotic seal to take care of! Spend time playing with it and watch as you slowly become sealmates. - 📸: @wat.ki 📰: @sci.daily - #lonely #loneliness #pal #dogshugging #dogs #hug #needafriend #support #lovedones #socialisolation #humanconnection

In a recent study, where participants followed an 8-week mindfulness program focusing on breath control, nature sounds, or music tracks, only nature sounds and music tracks resulted in reduced feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress. Furthermore, only the participants listening to nature sounds and music conditions said they’d be more likely to integrate the skills acquired in their practices into daily life. Practice: Skip the box breathing in your meditation practice this week and subscribe to Presence Weekly in our bio for free music experiences every week. :) - 📸: @kelvin.stagram 📰: @americanpsychologicalassoc - #meditation #naturesounds #whitenoise #naturesound #soundsofnature #birdschirping #breathwork #mindfulness #humanconnection

Have you loved someone today? In alignment with our mission to help you be more connected to yourself, others and nature, we’re sharing a few ways you can remind people you appreciate them: 💌 Send them a personalized card 🪴 Buy them flowers or a small houseplant 🍪 Treat them to a homemade dish or dessert 🎤 Send them a voice note reminding them that you love them 🧺 Take care of a chore for them, like doing the dishes or shoveling their car out of the snow 🏓 Take the time to learn about something they’re interested in 🎵 Make them a playlist 📧 Oh! And shameless plug, invite them to Presence Weekly, our newsletter sharing more practices (link in bio) Practice: Make a list of the qualities you appreciate in each person you interact with regularly, like your mom, coworker, grocery store clerk, or mailman. Take time to recognize them this week by sending a quick voice note or leaving them a QR code to a custom playlist! - 📸: @kyuinshim 📰: @mindbodygreen - #card #connection #scifi #robots #clarity #thinkalike #twins #care #caregiver #iloveyou #humans #humanconnection

A controlled study with over 50,000 participants did not find significant evidence that any wellness app greatly improved outcomes related to anxiety, depression, smoking or drinking, thoughts of suicide, or feelings of well-being. Rather, the study found select mental health apps worked more as a complement to therapy and alleviated temporary uneasiness when participants believed the apps would help. Practice: If you’re wanting more from your smartphone than basic increases in mental awareness, consider finding a therapist to couple with your efforts! Tell them what you’re hoping to achieve with your sessions and let them recommend a complementary app they like. - 📸: @galilucas 📰: @harvardmed - #meditation #meditationapp #planner #calm #headspace #mentalhealth #stressrelief #stressmanagement #awareness #speakyourtruth #dreamchaser #humanconnection

Want to watch YouTube videos and save the environment? Last week, we mentioned how looking at pictures of nature on your phone can lead to better mental states. Well now, you can listen to 4 hours of streams of rolling waves, birds chirping in a serene forest, and waterfalls in a rainforest all while benefitting the environment. Preservation Play is a youtube channel donating all the money made from its advertising revenue to various projects protecting the Amazon, the UK Woodlands, and other natural lands. Practice: Sit back, light a candle, and cast Preservation Play on your Apple TV to soak in the sounds of nature on the big screen. Take deep breaths and relax a little deeper knowing you’re giving back to the nature that’s making your day a little better. - 📸: @robmulhollandartist 📰: @fastcompany - #savetherainforest #preserveanatureza #preservenature #savetheplanet #savetheearth #savetheenvironment #humanconnection