Being in Nature

Ever find yourself inundated with thoughts, distractions, to-do lists, doubts and worries? In these overwhelming times, our first instinct is to do more, to work faster, to function at a higher frequency. That might be the norm - but what if we did the opposite? What if instead, we responded to stress with a calm state of mind? What if we looked these daily barrages straight in the face and decided that it is enough just to be?

While "being" is our natural state, we drift away from it slowly but surely. To combat this issue, it's essential that we find time every day to focus on being. No matter your season in life, you will make the most out of the day, and ultimately be more efficient, if you can be completely present in every moment. In order to do this, you might need a little inspiration.

When your head is full of noise from work to family matters, the concept of "being" can feel a little distant, a little esoteric, and sometimes a little unattainable. When this happens, it’s a great time to take a walk out in nature. If you’re stuck at the office, in the airport, or in the house, you can even visualize the same experience and still reap the benefits.

Today, on National Love a Tree Day, we’re thinking about how everything in nature - the trees, the flowers, the animals - knows innately how to be. We must remember that we once knew how to exist this way, too. From the 200-year-old tree to the scavenging squirrel, nature shows us time and time again that there is no use in lingering on the past or worrying about the future. When you are present in your mind and body, you are being, and that is enough.

The next time life starts to overwhelm you, don’t give in to the frenzy. Make the conscious decision to take an alternate route. A more scenic one. One that will actually lead you where you want to go. As you walk, breathe the fresh spring air, observe the color palette of the blooming flowers, hear birds chirping, feel the sunshine on your skin. All of these experiences will help return you to your body, and to your own state of being. Remember, no one can return you to your truest, most comfortable state of being but yourself. Nature, however, can serve as a powerful conduit to guide us into and through this personal journey.

The seaside, the mountains, the garden… where do you go to just be? Tell us about your sacred space in the comments below.