Why Waterfalls Make Us Happy
Majesty and a sense of awe draw us to waterfalls, beaches, and mountains. The sounds of cascading water are therapeutic and the sight inspires artists and writers. While water in motion is a powerful symbol for renewal, it is also a source of wellness for the mind, a resource worth protecting.
Swimming underneath a waterfall this last week reminded me of research on the cognitive benefits of immersion in nature. Holding facts in your memory while solving a problem (working memory), flexibility of thinking, and the ability to stay focused all improve after exposure to nature.
Water in motion is also incredibly soothing to a stressed out mind.
Amazingly, this isn’t just psychology but actual physics and biochemistry at work! Waterfalls generate negative ions that are believed to produce biochemical reactions that increase serotonin, a mood chemical. Ultimately it boosts mood organically without the side effects of medications used to treat depression and anxiety.
The tingling in the air we feel around waterfalls is actually a real physical thing. I swam behind the cascade of water and watched the shearing effect at work. I let the spray do its magic and took a deep breath. My pulse slowed and I held my breath briefly to maximize the absorption of the ions into my bloodstream. Areas of unconscious tension melted away and I felt a deep calm. We inhale an abundance of these invisible molecules in the spray of ocean water, rivers burbling along a trail, and most definitely near waterfalls.
Philipp Lenard who won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1905, is credited with the discovery of this phenomenon. He verified the science behind the sensation of finding mental health in waterscapes, an experience many report subjectively to help alleviate depression, relieve stress, and boost our energy.
When I felt the spray in the air of this hidden treasure I felt protective. On my way to this lagoon, I passed rusted-out vehicles, signs of human poverty, and deep scars left by industry. This place was a haven in a landscape that had been bruised by our occupation.
Wellness cannot exist in toxic environments.
We each hold a responsibility to invest in a healthy environment, personally and professionally. We have not been kind to the world and the damage is accumulating faster than our awareness or steps to stave off the destruction.
Economics has been the driver of greenhouse gasses and pollution, but it is a short term strategy. Businesses in the modern economy are showing increased interest in aligning with more cost efficient, profitable enterprises that create sustainable practices over the slash and burn approach. Workplaces with renewable energy decrease operating costs and increase profit margins. Paperless accounting, records, and business transactions decrease the carbon imprint as does an increase in work from home opportunities.
Increasing quality of life and job satisfaction for the workforce while eliminating a significant source of carbon emissions from your business pays dividends.
In honor of Earth Day 2023, seek out a waterscape in appreciation of the gifts our earth provides. I encourage you to commit to investing by decreasing your personal footprint in specific ways. The official earth day website has many ideas for how to take action.
Having taught ecology to young students, I understand the fragile nature of our ecosystem and the intricate web of life that can be destroyed so easily. For our own wellness we must be stewards of our earth as well as our minds every day.
Promoting a symbiotic relationship with our environment is simply a no-brainer.