Nature Based Mindfulness

written by Alex Pillion MSW, LSW

Throughout history and across the globe, nature and its offerings have been considered a form of medicine, nourishing our bodies and souls in a symbiotic friendship unlike any other relationship. Nature is, in and of itself therapeutic because of the many mental and physical benefits we receive from engaging with it- we work with plants as forms of medicine like many indigenous cultures have done for millennia, and we spend time in nature to recharge our emotional batteries. Nature is also a free opportunity for developing a mindfulness practice, allowing us the space to notice, observe, and practice non-judgment and feel its loving and relieving effects.

Have you ever noticed that when observing nature, it is less common to place a value-based judgment on what we see around us as often as we place these types of labels on ourselves? For instance, when observing a tree, do we ever judge the tree for how it is rooted to the earth, or if it has curling or straight branches, or if its leaves are lush or scattered on the earth? We may find ourselves labeling the observations we make, sure (“The tree is an oak” or “Those leaves are swaying in the breeze”), but the essence of these observations do not leave us with the heaviness that often comes when we apply certain labels to ourselves. Nature provides us with opportunities to reframe how we engage in the practice of observing, allowing us to learn that coming from a place of curiosity and non-judgment will not drain us of our energy but allow us time to learn and explore.

The next time you find yourself out in nature, consider participating in a mindfulness activity like this:

• Sit quietly in a place you feel safe to close your eyes, and listen for as many bird calls as you can hear singing around you. How many can you hear? Can you recognize any of the calls? Are the songs simple calls, melodic songs, or some combination? Do they ebb and flow? Are the birds calling and responding to one another, or offering solo performances?
• Now consider how you might apply the way you engage with that activity as you sit and observe your own mind and body. How might you apply the curiosity you used to listen to the birds to your own being? How might you reframe the judgments you make about your own body and mind to include love and compassion? What would it feel like to sit quietly with yourself and listen to the call of your own body, non-judgmentally taking in the information and sitting and listening for more to come?

There are infinite lessons nature can teach us about how we process information around us, how we accept what is, and how we listen for the music that is in and outside of us. It also leaves room for us to consider how we treat the natural world around us and how this reflects back to us how we treat ourselves and others. Nature truly is medicine, for all of us.

Interested in learning more about how to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life, connect with someone on our team.
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