How Nature Heals Us
LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
I’ll never forget the 1st time my dad took my scuba diving.
I didn’t have much nature experience (our family just didn’t do those kinds of holidays) so was just excited to spend time with him, but did not expect the wonder that would follow…
15 year old me and my turtle friend
The training was tough but it equipped me to be able to trust myself and remain calm in the vast expanse of the ocean.
I remember how peaceful it was to just observe underwater life happening, and we would spend hours retelling stories of treasured moments.
“Did you see this? Did you see that? Ohhh how I wish I caught it on camera..”
Moments that were filled with so much detail because they were undisturbed by distractions in the silence of the sea.
Also because for the most part, marine life look like aliens!!!
It was love at first sight.
NOT THE ONLY FISH IN THE SEA
Since moving back to Sydney in 2008, I have stumbled upon countless other joys of natural beauty:
The way rain enriches the hues of the sunrise
The choir of rustling leaves giving form to the wind
The unexpected way my body enjoyed being woken up by birdsong
How the sound of pattering rain on the tent is the best backdrop for literally anything - especially taking a nap
The sense of luck and appreciation that spotting a wild animal brought
The unending wonder of watching a campfire - the original TV!
Hiking and camping soon became my favourite pastimes.
THE ESSENCE OF LIFE
To me, being out in nature is soaking in the essence of life itself.
The nature of life is constant change - at a scale that is impossible to control.
on the way to Uluru
When I am out in nature, there’s an appreciation for things moving at their own pace. Things that don’t immediately make sense inspire curiosity, or further observation.
There’s a sense of acceptance for the things we can’t control.
We are less likely to resist the way a tree looks, or to worry about an insect’s behaviour, and more likely to focus our energy on how well we are meeting our own needs.
This acceptance puts us directly in flow of life itself. Being in this state is one of the best headspaces to find clarity about things that are emotionally charged.
This resistance to what is, causes a great deal of suffering and frustration.
Man-made environments on the otherhand are generally made to be permanent and hence there is no inherent life in them.
What do we do in these places? We feel bored, and expend energy to stir up change. Planning our next project, thinking of our next meal, dreaming of our next holiday, and other forms of ‘killing time’. There is a sense of wanting things to move and we are more likely to be concerned with how other things/people are getting in the way of our goals.
This resistance to what is, causes a great deal of suffering and frustration.
Not to say I think we should all be passiveists and tattoo “it is what it is” on our heads, but if we can drop the resistance and judgement of the flow of life, we would have more energy and resources to continue to contribute to, and shape it.
HOW NATURE HEALS US
Southern Highlands in the winter
Many cultures from all around the world practice cultivating connections with natural life force and I think I know what they’re onto.
Mind: Creating physical distance from the constant barrage of information in modern society allows for breathing room for the mind to refocus and find clarity.
Body: The meditative nature of re-directing all information consumption to your natural senses (sight/ smell/ touch/ taste and sound) allows you to develop a better sense of the state of your body, what it can do, and most importantly what it needs.
Spirit: Experiencing the humility of how expansive and powerful the natural environment is grounding, and gives us perspective.
WHY WE NEED IT
Our minds and bodies were developed over millions of years but technology has accelerated the amount of information that our senses are exposed to and we just weren’t built to know what to do with it all.
Like the growing of a child or the foundations of a strong relationship - natural things generally cannot be hurried.
Our society has normalised radical transformations, knowing everything about the worlds’ news and being connected to millions of people all the time.
We live in an over-worked, over-stressed, over-stimulated society and we feel guilty for slowing down or ‘resting’.
We want things now, we want things exciting, and we are losing touch with our true human capacity.
Like the growing of a child or the foundations of a strong relationship - natural things generally cannot be hurried.
Taking time to remind ourselves of the complexity and wonder of our human nature allows us to better appreciate all that we are, and all that we can experience.
Science is now affirming what our ancestors knew deeply.
A study of 20,000 people found that those who spent just 2 hours a week in green spaces reported significantly better health and psychological well-being than those who didn’t.
CREATURE COMFORTS
“But it’s so cold/hot.. “
“Where do I pee?”
“I hate not showering”
Hiking or Camping is NOT about slumming it out to find gratitude for your life. That being said, there are certain creature comforts we may have gotten used to that will need to be overcome if the above is something you are interested in making more room for in your life.
Thinking about these things, communicating it, and doing it with your friends is part of the foundations of what makes a strong community.
Just like any growth, you just need to find the right amount of discomfort so you are outside of your comfort zone, yet not overwhelmed.
Whether that be finding a suitable hike difficulty, bringing a portable shower, packing a mattress and bedsheets, or preparing your favourite meal ahead of time.
I encourage you to give it a go with some of your loved ones. At the start, it can feel a bit like planning a group holiday except on a smaller scale, and with more even contribution.
Even before the adventure begins, thinking about these things, communicating it, and co-creating it with others is part of the foundations of what supports a strong community.
There is less blame, and shared accountability for everyone’s experience which is easier to turn misjudgements into learnings, instead of letting them turn into resentment.
KAIZBEN NATURE RESETS
A lot of considerations go into getting out in nature - weather reports, appropriate clothing, availability of facilities, physical capability and other logistics etc.
Over the last decade or so of camping & hiking experience in Australia, I have been collecting data points on all of my hikes and campsites to suit the seasons, resources, and needs of the audience.
I’d be happy to share some if you’re looking to plan your own adventure, otherwise you can find more information about my nature-based offerings here ,or get in touch to discuss how I can curate an experience for you.
All of my work has been inspired by nature so it’s not an exaggeration to say that my most powerful offering is to deliver my modalities out in the bush.
If you’ve been interested in working with me, I invite you to come spend some time in nature with me.
Hi, I am Ben.
If this post resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
I help people live freer & more powerful lives by dissolving chronic pain of the mind, body & spirit.
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I post practical tools and inspirational reflections drawn from lives of real people, nature’s wisdom, and the wonderful world of art.
