Nature clings itself together with the divine element, or dynamics, in us - to augment the dignity of our righteous and harmonious actions. "There is," as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, "a particular affinity between the processes of nature and the capabilities of man. Nature provides a suitably large and impressive background against which man's higher actions are dramatically outlined. It is this which distinguishes the stick of timber of the wood-cutter from the tree of the poet."

Picture this. Science, as Max Born, the German-English physicist and mathematician, articulated, consists essentially in making man appreciate the pre-eminence of critical knowing over instinctive thinking - as far as our awareness of nature is concerned. This characterises a prodigious humanistic influence, for two reasons. One, humans are characterised by the ability to know. Hence, a certain improvement in their knowing necessitates by itself a tangible improvement in their human condition. Two, the relationship of man with nature is essential for affable humanism - because, we all depend on nature in myriad ways.

Life in modern cities, or towns, may not offer us wholesome advantages as does nature in the countryside. Yet, there are simple, useful ways to exploring nature. One could go to the nearest garden for a walk, jog, or relaxation. One could, likewise, relax on the sands of a beach, or bench overlooking a nice man-made pond. Or, chill out on a beanbag, after dinner - just watching the stars for a while. Or, keep houseplants in the balcony, or small water-fountains, where appropriate. To unwind and relax.

This brings us to life dualities. Plato was the first philosopher to resolve a dualistic premise - the body-soul construct in ancient thought. He believed that the soul was immortal and distinct from the body, although he elevated the metaphysical 'fencepost' for its credence. He believed the soul was perpetual. He suggested that the soul doesn't come into existence with the body; it exists prior to being 'attached' to the body. Socrates, his teacher, believed the soul was immortal. He contended that death was not the end of existence; it was merely the parting of the soul from the corporeal body.

The soul and the ego - in today's context - are two pristine paradigms, although they are barely ever in balance, or equilibrium. While most of our life's troubles are represented by our swollen ego, the fact also is most unsuccessful relationships are fragments of its lop-sided, elemental variance. Our ego is a puzzle, all right. On the one hand, it celebrates the divine subtext, or context, in us - call it our inner 'all-inclusive' power, or what you may. Yet, on the contrary, it is the same ego that typifies our pride in what we do, or don't. The more we have it, the happier our life will be, or so we think, although the fact is something that lies, or stays, somewhere in-between, is perhaps better - more so, where no one is wiser than when they first began.

The ego has its own rote, compass, or radar - it cautions us in the face of a threat, or peril. For Plato, this was the rational element - one that connects to Sigmund Freud's eloquent precept. It pertains to each corresponding relationship vis-à-vis other elements confined to and in the soul. While Freud formulated the theory of human ego, his whole psychological opus was connected to the idea that our ego functions incessantly, far below the breadth, or expanse, of our mind, or mindful awareness, working, influencing, or integrating every aspect of our behaviour - primarily through the use of difference, reasoning and other strategies. What does this suggest? That our ego holds a 'double-sided' mirror; and, it reflects, or refracts, any given, or not given, condition. It rules every realm of our activity - be it the sciences, arts, sports, business, politics, or technological advance.

In simple terms, you could think of the soul - 'prana,' or 'chi' - as the intangible life force energy that gives life to our physical form and exists in and around our body. When our soul leaves our body, the life force leaves too and the body withers and dies. The soul is not our physical body, nor is it our thoughts, emotions, feelings, or physical sensations that we experience, or decode - our soul is absorbing them all like the sponge. The ego is, likewise, a sense of self - its identity shaped in our minds. It is based on our own, unique, or personalised, three-dimensional understanding - the experience and interpretation of the external world and using it to comparing and contrasting ourselves against other people, concepts, things and the like for creating a picture of ourselves, although the whole idea speaks to us in a varied, yet unique language.

Just think of it - it's our individual, or 'collective' ego, that brings about change, a change for the better, or worse. This makes our expressive life what it is - the two contrasting ends of the spectrum - of balance and happiness, or imbalance and despair. It provides us with certain signs, if not a fixed direction - this is a handy 'voucher' to beating our stresses and living our lives to its completest potential and also 'prize-fighting' to turn our soulful dreams into reality. It holds a life-long message for all of us, no less - that we should always strive to do our best, come what may, but never ever waste life by thinking negatively as what could be in store tomorrow.

Nature, and life, are complex elements. They are endowed with innumerable physical and chemical properties of matter. This is why they mend, maintain, reinvent and maximise themselves - right from millions of cells that drive us through life, and not just the changing of seasons, while sifting and wading over matter like a slow, measured surf - a form of precise, creative transformation.

Nidamboor is a wellness physician, independent researcher and author