Introduction
Spring has often been associated with mental wellness. Spring is a vibrant, exuberant season and this helps to rejuvenate the body as well as the mind. There are a number of reasons for spring wellness. Some of them are explored below:
History
1) Color: Spring is the season when flowers bloom. The earth becomes covered in an array of colors. This is a feast for the eyes, especially after the gloomy winter. In cold countries, the only color that is observed during winter is white. Everything seems to be dead and lifeless. In warmer counties too, winters are pretty dull – most trees shed their leaves few trees bear flowers. After such a melancholic period, there is tremendous joy in watching flowers bloom. The cacophony of colors is almost intoxicating. It symbolises hope for a better future. The mind perceives these signals sent out by nature. Thus, the fact that spring is full of color is a major reason for spring wellness.
2) Sunshine: Winters are bitter and cold. In cold countries, the sun rarely comes out during winter. The days are short and the nights are long. There is not much light and the darkness seems to penetrate the mind too. Things get extremely dull – life seems to be dark and bleak. One cannot venture outside for long. It is almost as if nature has found a way of sentencing everyone to house arrest. All the trees seem to be dead. The chilly wind kills everything in its path. But all this changes with spring. Spring wellness may be considered as a by-product of sunshine. The sunshine brings warmth. It breathes life into a seemingly dead world. The sun is the most essential form of energy for the earth. This is why the sun has been worshipped in many religions and cultures all over the world. The sun is among the prime reasons for spring wellness. Not only does the sun bring light and warmth, but it also drives away the darkness that pervades peoples’ minds during the winter.
Features
3) Abundance vs. Scarcity: Winter is a season of scarcity. There are not many sources of food. We have to depend upon what we have stored during the summer months. Winters resemble a shortage of food, energy and happiness. This causes the mind to become stressed out and worried about the future. On the contrary, spring heralds the proliferation of life. It is a symbol of abundance. This enables the mind to relax and to enjoy the gifts of nature. All the things that we see, feel and experience have a definite effect on the mind. The feeling of abundance that accompanies spring is largely responsible for spring wellness.
4) A new beginning: Spring wellness is a direct result of the fact that spring stands for a new beginning of life. Winter seems to be bent on annihilation of life while spring marks the beginning of a new life cycle. The mind’s natural tendency is to seek comfort and solace – this is exactly what spring provides.
Tips and comments
The feeling of wellness that spring provides can be effectively put to use to tackle bouts of depression and anxiety in people. Spring wellness is nature’s way of invigorating the mind after a long, harsh and dreaded winter.
