Inspiration

Connecting with nature can help you rediscover a sense of awe, shift your perspective to the big picture and bring your life in line with your moral compass. Active appreciation of the natural world balances the mind’s negativity bias, and increases gratitude. Time in nature connects you with the seasons and the cycle of regrowth and regeneration that is part of life. It’s a reminder that however painful life is, by adapting and accepting, rather than resisting, we can survive and thrive.

You don’t have to hike in the Alps to tap into the transcendent power of nature. Think ‘wonder as you wander’, by noticing tiny details – the contrast between light and shade, the patterns of the bark on trees, the movement of the clouds. If you feel disconnected from your purpose or unsure of your direction, factor in at least one ‘appreciation walk’ a week, where you unplug and focus on the beauty and resilience of nature. Sometimes, the most liberating and uplifting thought for an unsettled mind is the reminder of how insignificant we, and our problems, are in the vast universe.