When was the last time that you paid attention to the birds? Have you noticed what the squirrels have been up to lately?
I never would have guessed that nature could be a great teacher of lessons for living. Nature reminds us about the true abundance in life. Seeing the squirrels happily go about collecting and storing their nuts each year is a lesson of our true prosperity. Spiritual wisdom tells us that we never need to worry because we are always being taken care of. There is always a way for our needs to be met. The squirrels never worry about there not being enough nuts. They never fear that one year the nuts will disappear. Every year, the nuts are always there and there are more nuts than what the squirrels will ever use. There is no need to fear that there is not enough of anything. There is no need for competition since there is enough to go around. Nobody has to lose for you to get what you want.
Nature also teaches me about change. Every autumn, the leaves fall off the trees and by winter, the trees are completely bare. The trees appear to be devoid of life, but if we spend time in nature, we could see little buds forming on the bare branches that will blossom into new leaves in the spring. It is a lesson about living. Our lives can seem bare and bleak, but an invisible rebirth is happening on a spiritual level. New opportunities and possibilities are coming to us, even when they seem to be passing us by or so far away. We can never judge our lives by appearances. We just need faith that opportunities are coming, even if our world seems hopeless. We have to believe that our lives are getting better before we can see and experience the proof. Life is always supporting us.
Nature teaches us to always move in the flow of change rather than resist change. Each autumn, the trees never stop and try to hold on to their leaves. For the trees know and trust that new leaves will form eventually, so it is safe to let go of the old dying leaves. The losing and growing of leaves is just a natural part of life. On the other hand, we tend to fight change at the first sight. We try to hold on to what we are losing or get back whatever we have lost. We have not developed our ability to trust that we will gain new opportunities and possibilities through change. Change is the natural way of life that is always present, it is just a matter of when change will happen.
Nature teaches me to appreciate beauty in a variety of different forms. There is no single standard of beauty within nature. Everything is beautiful and unique in its own right. This message helps me to appreciate the diverse beauty that exists among human beings. We all do not need to look alike, act alike or live our lives the same way. We can be unique and wonderful in our own right.
Believe it or not, nature can be a source of inspiration and personal renewal. Whenever I connect with nature, all of my attention goes to wherever I am. All of my senses come alive and I take in the experience with each of my senses. I guess some would call this an experience of mindfulness. I truly get lost in the world of nature. I leave whatever troubles, concerns, fears and negative thoughts at the entrance of the nature trail. Once I connect with nature, the outside world is lost to me. I am simply open to everything that nature has to offer me.
Nature helps me to become calm and centered again whenever I am upset or confused. Walking through the nature trails and observing all these living things in their own element helps restore my hope whenever I feel anxious. Nature reminds me that life is really simple. It reminds me to be flexible like a leaf that blows in the direction of wind instead of inflexible. Nature reminds that I will survive my temporary unhappiness. Nature allows me to think clearer by freeing my mind of useless clutter. Once my mind gets clear, I have a fresher view of my "troubles." There is always hope for better days.
Whenever you are feeling stressful or off center, connect with nature in some way. Walk a nature trail. Go sit in your garden. Go to the window and watch the birds. Play with a pet. Take the dog for a walk. Go on a short hike. Sit in the grass and just focus on all the vegetation. Be present in body and mind with nature. Let other thoughts go for now. Be completely where you are now. If you are in an office, get to the nearest window or go outside for a few minutes. Look at the trees, birds and flowers to center your mind and help ease stress.
When you need inspiration, connect with nature. Look at the flowers, trees and different plants. Notice everything that you see in great detail. Notice the differences. Just allow yourself to get lost in the experience with nature.
Connecting with nature is very powerful. Treat yourself to this powerful experience and see how it benefits you in unexpected ways. Spring can be a wonderful time of year to begin connecting with nature or get reconnected after a long absence.
Copyright©2008 Jeannine Robinson All Rights Reserved