Reconnecting With Yourself in Nature
"You aren’t separate from nature – you are a part of it."
Learning From The Natural World
Like most little children, when you were growing up you probably loved being in nature. You would run around in your backyard rolling around in the grass, picking up little critters, embracing the warm sun or staring in wonder at the moon and stars at night. Being in and with nature taught you to be curious and imaginative about the world around you. Remember how many hours you spent creating entire stories and worlds with your imagination when you interacted with nature as a child. This wonderful and magical relationship with nature most likely brought you a sense of overwhelming joy and love that was sensational and unique.
Somewhere along the way, as you got older, you may have lost that connection. You traded your childlike wonder and imagination in the natural world for video games, shopping trips and hanging out with people inside away from nature. In school and work you learned what it truly meant to be “too busy” – further taking you away from the biological, relaxed rhythm of nature and the divinity that resides within you. As you grew up you actually let yourself grow apart from and be disconnected from nature. You severed yourself from the divine natural world that is what we understand to be the true voice of God and allowed yourself to lose sight of the magic and wonder that was once yours in natures reflection of your soul through your individual interaction with it.
You aren’t alone. In our current society any free moment we have is given to our new age “idols” with materialist, the entertainment industry, politics, electronics, social media or stresses about things we haven’t done and things we tell ourselves we still need to do. It feels as though any moments rest is a moment waisted. This is a serious problem and the furthest thing from the truth. Connecting with and seeing yourself in nature and taking moments to breathe it in and the daily stresses out is a crucial part of our overall health and wellbeing. It is spending time with yourself in nature which gives you the opportunity to slow down, connect with who you really are at your core and what you truly long for out of life without all the distractions and excess noise. It gives you a space to slow down and remember what’s sincerely important to you. Nature will quiet your mind, open your heart and invite a genuine sense of ease into your body because you are finally listening solely to the unique and divine soul or spirit inside of you.
Somewhere along the way, as you got older, you may have lost that connection. You traded your childlike wonder and imagination in the natural world for video games, shopping trips and hanging out with people inside away from nature. In school and work you learned what it truly meant to be “too busy” – further taking you away from the biological, relaxed rhythm of nature and the divinity that resides within you. As you grew up you actually let yourself grow apart from and be disconnected from nature. You severed yourself from the divine natural world that is what we understand to be the true voice of God and allowed yourself to lose sight of the magic and wonder that was once yours in natures reflection of your soul through your individual interaction with it.
You aren’t alone. In our current society any free moment we have is given to our new age “idols” with materialist, the entertainment industry, politics, electronics, social media or stresses about things we haven’t done and things we tell ourselves we still need to do. It feels as though any moments rest is a moment waisted. This is a serious problem and the furthest thing from the truth. Connecting with and seeing yourself in nature and taking moments to breathe it in and the daily stresses out is a crucial part of our overall health and wellbeing. It is spending time with yourself in nature which gives you the opportunity to slow down, connect with who you really are at your core and what you truly long for out of life without all the distractions and excess noise. It gives you a space to slow down and remember what’s sincerely important to you. Nature will quiet your mind, open your heart and invite a genuine sense of ease into your body because you are finally listening solely to the unique and divine soul or spirit inside of you.
"Nature is always talking to you if you are actually listening. Not just with your ears, but with your eyes, heart, & soul."
Understand Your Relationship With Nature
The first step in reconnecting your soul with the divine spirit of the Earth is realizing that you are already a part of it and nature, not separate from it, and that nature is the most realized and easily perceivable form of what we understand to be God. When we see ourselves as separate from nature, we deceive ourselves. We separate ourselves from it, believing that there is an untouchable and natural hierarchy that we are not only on top of but also above participating in. What we fail to realize is that we actively participate in nature every day. Nature is an inherent part of our existence, shaping our interactions with one another and all other beings. Understanding that nature is not just something on the outside in your environment, but a part of your very being is essential to your spiritual wellbeing.
Remember that your physical body is made up of all the same elements, minerals and energy that makes up the planet and the rest of the cosmos that is unified in all things. So much so, that our bodies are naturally in tune with how the planet goes about each day. You can, for example, see this in the human bodies own circadian rhythm (which is syncopated by our exposure to daylight) or in how the seasons and weather can often impact our emotional state of being. For those that spend a lot time in and with nature, sitting in silent meditation ( or prayer, whichever title you prefer to use) will help you clear and center your mind and connect you to your extended transcendent, divine and eternal self on an even deeper level. When you allow yourself to have an open mind and heart, you can more readily accept what nature is trying to teach you about yourself and the unity of all things.
Remember that your physical body is made up of all the same elements, minerals and energy that makes up the planet and the rest of the cosmos that is unified in all things. So much so, that our bodies are naturally in tune with how the planet goes about each day. You can, for example, see this in the human bodies own circadian rhythm (which is syncopated by our exposure to daylight) or in how the seasons and weather can often impact our emotional state of being. For those that spend a lot time in and with nature, sitting in silent meditation ( or prayer, whichever title you prefer to use) will help you clear and center your mind and connect you to your extended transcendent, divine and eternal self on an even deeper level. When you allow yourself to have an open mind and heart, you can more readily accept what nature is trying to teach you about yourself and the unity of all things.
Creating a A Natural Awareness
Connect with Nature Using All Of Your Senses
When is the last time you slowed down and actively became present in the moment? Go outside and make contact with the earth. Feel the dirt beneath your feet, lay in the grass and touch the bark of a tree. Smell the newly bloomed flowers, and taste and feel the air around you kiss your face. Pause and focus on each of your senses one by one and really listen to what your body is telling you through each of these wonderous interactions. You will likely notice a deep feeling of relaxation in your mind and body as nature embraces you lovingly in return. Take the time to write down and remember your experiences and how each of the senses felt when you focused on them. Reflect back on how that made you feel and acknowledge anything it may have taught you. Overtime you will learn that a single thought will quickly manifest a noticeable and self-defining answer in the natural world when you are attuned to the voice in all things. The more quiet and centered you can be with yourself and your thoughts, the more vividly and energetically nature will respond.
Expand Your Horizon's - Explore Somewhere New
If you want to connect to yourself on a deeper level you need to get out into nature – but it doesn’t have to be the same place you always go. While there is no issue with surrounding yourself with the familiar, going out and exploring something new can give you a new perspective. When you’re in a new environment, you can learn about the different elements that make it special. You can study the new trees and flowers, or make friends with new creatures. Try climbing a boulder or mountain, doing yoga in a local park, or taking a run on a sandy beach. By taking on new challenges you can build self-confidence and feel more empowered
Spend Time Alone With Yourself in Nature
While it’s great to get social interaction, when we’re with other people we tend to just be talking ego’s seeking affirmation from one another. Many feel that silence is uncomfortable and force conversation or get worried about what people will think of them, in turn, constantly editing ourselves to ensure we’re behaving according to what we perceive to be the rules of engagement in our social surroundings. All of these external egoisms make it difficult to connect with nature and our truest self. These social environments also make it extremely difficult to actually know what we want from life for ourselves versus what we seek from life to appease or please others. Nature does not care what other’s think of you, it’s deepest desire is to cultivate a deep love and appreciation for yourself. Nature is the truest mirror of the soul and will eagerly reflect back the love and admiration of it’s children when they come home.
Life Lessons in Nature - Seeking and Revealing Deeper Truths
You learned a lot as a child about what nature can teach you about life, but some of those lessons may have been lost in the shuffle. Ask yourself what you want to learn from being in nature. Maybe you want to be reminded to appreciate the small things, learn how to be humble in such a large world, or how patience is a virtue. When you go to spend time outside, clearly defined your intentions to yourself and focus on them while you make your journey. Reflect on these lessons regularly to help you stay connected. You are able to tap into any part of nature, because it is inherently in you. No matter how long you stay indoors, at a desk or under fluorescent lighting. The truth remains that you are nature and nothing can take that away from you.
When is the last time you slowed down and actively became present in the moment? Go outside and make contact with the earth. Feel the dirt beneath your feet, lay in the grass and touch the bark of a tree. Smell the newly bloomed flowers, and taste and feel the air around you kiss your face. Pause and focus on each of your senses one by one and really listen to what your body is telling you through each of these wonderous interactions. You will likely notice a deep feeling of relaxation in your mind and body as nature embraces you lovingly in return. Take the time to write down and remember your experiences and how each of the senses felt when you focused on them. Reflect back on how that made you feel and acknowledge anything it may have taught you. Overtime you will learn that a single thought will quickly manifest a noticeable and self-defining answer in the natural world when you are attuned to the voice in all things. The more quiet and centered you can be with yourself and your thoughts, the more vividly and energetically nature will respond.
Expand Your Horizon's - Explore Somewhere New
If you want to connect to yourself on a deeper level you need to get out into nature – but it doesn’t have to be the same place you always go. While there is no issue with surrounding yourself with the familiar, going out and exploring something new can give you a new perspective. When you’re in a new environment, you can learn about the different elements that make it special. You can study the new trees and flowers, or make friends with new creatures. Try climbing a boulder or mountain, doing yoga in a local park, or taking a run on a sandy beach. By taking on new challenges you can build self-confidence and feel more empowered
Spend Time Alone With Yourself in Nature
While it’s great to get social interaction, when we’re with other people we tend to just be talking ego’s seeking affirmation from one another. Many feel that silence is uncomfortable and force conversation or get worried about what people will think of them, in turn, constantly editing ourselves to ensure we’re behaving according to what we perceive to be the rules of engagement in our social surroundings. All of these external egoisms make it difficult to connect with nature and our truest self. These social environments also make it extremely difficult to actually know what we want from life for ourselves versus what we seek from life to appease or please others. Nature does not care what other’s think of you, it’s deepest desire is to cultivate a deep love and appreciation for yourself. Nature is the truest mirror of the soul and will eagerly reflect back the love and admiration of it’s children when they come home.
Life Lessons in Nature - Seeking and Revealing Deeper Truths
You learned a lot as a child about what nature can teach you about life, but some of those lessons may have been lost in the shuffle. Ask yourself what you want to learn from being in nature. Maybe you want to be reminded to appreciate the small things, learn how to be humble in such a large world, or how patience is a virtue. When you go to spend time outside, clearly defined your intentions to yourself and focus on them while you make your journey. Reflect on these lessons regularly to help you stay connected. You are able to tap into any part of nature, because it is inherently in you. No matter how long you stay indoors, at a desk or under fluorescent lighting. The truth remains that you are nature and nothing can take that away from you.
