Mindful moments in your garden
Learn how to enjoy spending time alone in nature in a way that gives lasting benefits.
Have you been outside yet today?
I wanted to suggest something you might like to try if you’ve got a few spare minutes. Do you ever spend time alone and quiet in nature (even in your garden), and really really pay attention to what you can see / hear / feel / smell?
Stepping back and immersing yourself in nature, even for a few minutes, can work wonders for your overall well-being, especially if you spend your life constantly surrounded by distractions - family, friends, colleagues, and all the wonders of the world in your phone and computer!
Try this!
Choose somewhere to stand where your feet are flat and stable on the ground. Shut your eyes and listen. Pay attention to the differences in the bird songs you can hear. Perhaps you can hear other noises like the rustling of leaves in the wind, or the birds’ wings, or insects buzzing. Even if there is traffic noise etc. you can still approach it with curiosity. Ask yourself, what else can I hear? Can you notice the direction the sounds are coming from?
Why should I?
Doing this takes your mind away from your unstoppable thought train because your brain is entirely occupied by the act of listening. This heightened awareness of your senses is an important aspect of mindfulness and by consciously taking the time to spend a few minutes in this way each day (exploring different senses each time perhaps), you’ll find it will help you to be more mindful of your body and your physical sensations through the rest of your day as well. Becoming more mindful in this way can help us appreciate the little things in life more, it can help us stay calm during stressful situations, it can allow us to better identify what our body needs moment to moment. I could go on…..!
Mindfulness in nature gives you the chance to reconnect with yourself in a profound way and find a sense of tranquillity that's often elusive if we spend every moment staying busy and distracted. We all need time to stop and to reset if we are going to show up as our best selves in our lives.
I’d love to know how you get on. Let me know if this was helpful to you, or if this sort of practice is already an important part of your life? Teaching about how to incorporate simple mindful practices is a key part of my work with many clients, and with groups.
