A mindful walk in the woods may reveal nature’s wisdom

natural world.

Nature speaks to us. It reflects potent ideas if we pay attention to the wisdom being presented. Let’s say you take a mindful walk in the woods. What do you see? Are you only noticing a bunch of trees and plants? Or can you view the landscape in deeper ways?

A tree, for instance, has a story. As you stand before it, you observe its weathered bark, its profound roots, and its branches reaching skyward. Gazing at it opens a door to wisdom. You can appreciate all it’s been through. It mirrors all you’ve overcome. Maybe its message is, you need to be more rooted and grounded in what you’re currently experiencing. Perhaps, like its branches, you need to turn your attention upward away from complaints.

A still pond can beckon you to cultivate regular states of calm. A path can remind you that nothing in life is a straight line. A tepid wind can invite you to “cool your jets.” You see a distant mountain. It tells you to be solid, to stand your ground, to not be blown about by others’ opinions. Seedlings may tell you to be patient with your goals. Leaves on the ground remind you of seasons of life.

You are the discerner of the available natural wisdom around you. The key to benefiting from your time in nature is presence. If you are busy with your cellphone, even taking pictures of what is before you or taking selfies, you can miss out on wisdom. Are you truly in the woods, savoring what you are experiencing, or are you lost in your thoughts and troubles? It’s easy to be distracted, isn’t it?

Next time you find yourself in nature, be fully present with all your senses. Ask this question of nature: “What do you have to say to me?”