“Healing Spaces, The Science of Place and Well-Being” by Esther Sternberg, M.D.
I learned of Dr Sternberg’s writing in Supervision Class taught by Anne Durand, Director of Training at my favorite coach training school, Mentor Coach LLC. I read the assigned book “The Balance Within” by the same author and have since reread it. Good books make me want to do that.
This one is another thought provoking good read. As a Life and Business Coach with educational and positive psychological interests, places and spaces intrigue me for their benefits toward a flourishing life. This is filled with the latest neuroscience, medical, and psychological studies and activities that increase balance and healing spaces and places in the mind and body.
Beautiful scenes, colors of various wavelengths, different sounds and silence, touch and smell- all have an effect on our moods, emotions and responses to our environment.
Place cells are nerve cells that register location in space and pull together the sensory inputs we receive. This is a process necessary for the creation of an integral sense of place, an internal map with harmony integrating landmark images from experiences that form our internal compass.
There are also healing thoughts, healing prayers and visions that inspire others, such as the well-known healing place Lourdes, giving hope that a place will heal.
The author cites the new field of “evidence-based design” that evaluates the health benefits of architectural features in hospitals. A study found that patients healed faster when their room had a vista window. Less noise, vista windows, access to nature, green spaces and visiting space decreased stress and increased healing.
Building urban spaces like bike trails, parks, and wide sidewalks can have an effect on activity and exercise, both beneficial to healing and staying healthy.
I particularly liked the term “walkability” in building design for its value for exercise, social needs, beauty in nature and thus health and healing.
It is important to each of us to find our own place of peace and healing for our own physical and mental health. It may be in a garden, hearing music in church, the calming movement in a labyrinth, a breathtaking vista, a favorite viewing place, flowing river water, sounds of a fountain or birds chirping, a familiar prayer and pleasant memory for examples.
The inner peace then helps us create beneficial environments for others. That is why I
recommend this book for a good understanding of Healing Spaces and the Science of Well-Being.
Rita M. Thompson
