Being in
nature reminds us that vitality involves creativity and change. In the woods or
on a beach, you become aware that nature is continually reinventing and
renewing itself. As you think about where your life has become boring or
deadening, you might want to reclaim your vitality by going into nature. In natural
outdoor spaces, you can experience a shift in your energy and perspective. You
might find yourself identifying ways to live with a greater sense of freedom,
adventure, and fulfillment.
To take a
revitalizing break from your routine, pick a spot in nature where you can spend
at least a half an hour uninterrupted, simply observing the natural world. You
might want to sit by the edge of an ocean, lake, or river, take a walk in the
woods experiencing “forest bathing” (or shinrin-yoku, as the Japanese
call it) as you immerse yourself in the experience of the world of animals,
plants, wind, and sky. If there’s no way for you to get outdoors due to a
medical or health condition, try to find a spot where you can look out into a
natural area through a window. You might want have a notebook and pen with you
in case you feel inspired to write about what you’re thinking, feeling, and
observing while in this space.
Set an
intention to learn from nature how you can experience greater vitality. You
might even ask nature directly to, “Please help me to feel more enlivened.”
Then,
keeping your eyes open, focus on the sights, sounds, and smells all around you.
Some of these sensations may be quite subtle, but if you are quiet and willing
to pay attention, you can pick up on them. If you see an animal or an insect
such as a moth or butterfly, watch its movements.
Take time
to look at each plant or tree. Notice what’s on the ground. Is there water
nearby in a puddle or in the sky in the form of a cloud? Observe it.
Open
yourself to any messages from nature that come to you as an inner knowing, some
words, a metaphor, or a synchronicity—a meaningful coincidence. What can you
learn from the sound of a bird calling as it perches in a tree before taking
flight? What do you make of a bird taking flight just as a cloud covers the
sun? It may mean nothing, but it may be a synchronicity—a meaningful
coincidence. Pay attention to how you feel and what you sense as you have this
experience in nature.
You might
want to compose a poem about what you’re observing. Here’s one that nature
inspired me to write:
Waves
The lake’s
waves roiled
blue and
mud-brown intermingled
inexorably
moving into shore
and then
again, again, again.
Where does
the water come from,
and whence
does it return?
Does it
learn from each visitation to the shore,
or does it
flow mindlessly?
The lake smiles
at the question.
“Look at
me,” she says.
“I repeat
my dance of life with exquisite variation.
The sun,
the moon, the wind, stars and earth are my
partners,
subtly
moving with me,
changing
and being changed.”
The
conductor enjoys the dance and orchestration,
never
knowing for sure the actual composition.
The birds
and other animals move to the music, being fed
and
feeding.
Humans
find their place by dancing
or are
swept away by the music of life and submerged.
Fish know
how to be in the water.
Your poem
might rhyme or it might not. It might be a haiku, with five syllables in the
first line, seven in the next, and five in the third and last line. If you
don’t feel like composing a poem, you might want to draw a picture or come up
with a melody inspired by your natural surroundings.
After at
least fifteen minutes in nature, check in with yourself. Do you have a
different perspective on your life? Are problems that seemed too burdensome now
somewhat relativized, helping you to feel more hopeful about working through
them? You might want to write your answers in a notebook or journal.
As you
think about what you just experienced, you might realize that something changed
in your surroundings. Think about how you responded to those changes? Did you
resent them at first and then come to accept them? Did anything unexpected
happen, and if so, what was it? How did you feel about that event or the lack
of anything unusual occurring while you sat there?
Maybe your
time in nature made you feel bored or restless. If so, ask yourself, “What
lesson does my boredom [or restlessness] have for me?” and wait for an answer.
Then imagine your boredom or restlessness is standing in front of you. Ask it,
“What do I need to let go of to feel a greater sense of vitality?” and “What do
I need to bring in to feel a greater sense of vitality?” You might need to
exchange a habit, feeling, thought, or belief for something that makes you feel
more excited about your life. You can also ask nature these questions about
lessons, giving up something, and bringing in something else. Being bored or
fidgety in nature is an experience worth pondering.
I believe
nature observes us as we observe it and has many lessons to teach us. If you’re
feeling that you’ve been robotically going through life lately, check in with
nature to see if it can help you reclaim your vitality and perhaps learn
something about yourself.