Nature Is The Great Regulator
Many people I know (including myself) swear by after-dinner walks. Stepping out the door, especially this time of year when the sun is high in the evenings, feels like stepping out into a brightly lit oasis. As I am walking along the pavement, the cool breeze brushes my hair around and feels absurdly pleasant. The late day sun on my skin is grounding and warm, and I don’t care that the sun is shining directly in my eyes. The light bounces off the delicately floating “spring snow,” the result of blooming cottonwood trees, making these puffballs look like sparkles. I am listening to the sweet chorus of birds in the stillness between the rumbles of irregularly passing cars.
Nature has a special way of calling attention to herself. It’s as if she is inviting us into presence through experiencing her beauty. As our attention drifts to the details of the outside world, suddenly we are no longer stuck in rumination and endless thoughts. Being embodied through sensing Nature feels like a balm on an underlying sense of anxiety. It becomes much easier to practice mindfulness in Nature - there are infinite opportunities to drop out of thought, and into a number of sensations occurring as a result of being outside. It becomes apparent that we don’t need to be constantly thinking about things, and when we think less, we feel better! From a regulated state, often times the right action in response to a stressor or problem becomes apparent if not automatic.
“If a problem can be solved than there is no need for worry. If it can not be solved there is no use worrying about it.”
- Dalai Lama
“No amount of anxiety will make any difference to what is going to happen.”
- Alan Watts
“Worry pretends to be necessary but serves no useful purpose.”
-Eckhart Tolle
Our ancestral nature reminds us that we are animals sharing in the resources of Mother Earth. The vast majority of animals know nothing else except living in close relationship with Nature. I have never heard of animals getting anxious, except for humans! Have we drifted so far from this restorative connection with the Earth as to cause unnecessary distress and dysfunction in ourselves?
Nature is a constant invitation to connect with being alive, through noticing beauty and acting in alignment with natural cycles. Noticing beauty drops us into our senses and allows us to feel a spiritual connection to our place in the world. Opening our senses to Nature introduces a quiet sense of “I belong here,” which is a message to our nervous system that we are safe. Establishing a sense of belonging and safety is a precursor to feeling joyful, energetic, and alive.
Nature is unpredictable and can sometimes lead to danger. The good news is that mostly all mild to moderate weather can be appreciated with proper clothes, gear, and preparation. When Nature veers into danger and unpredictable conditions, we can choose to be humbled by this and find safety. We can continue accepting our role in the natural order of things. We cannot control much, but we can be open to change and respond appropriately.
Connection to Nature becomes ESSENTIAL when we are dealing with uncertainty and suffering. I hope this essay has inspired you to get the heck outside and enjoy whatever weather is happening. Nervous system regulation is all the rage right now for a reason. We must regulate ourselves in order to manage stress and reset to a calm baseline. This method of regulating is simpler than yoga or breathing or meditating - you just need to step out the door (no screens or earbuds allowed!!!).
