Lessons to be Learned from Nature

If you’ve followed along with me for a bit, you probably know that I’m never one to shy away from sharing my love for nature. While I’m an outdoor enthusiast through-and-through, all year-round, there's no better time to show some extra appreciation for our greatest teacher, Mother Earth, than on Earth Day.

The more I learn about mindset and energy, from textbooks, industry leaders, and my clients, the more I connections I am able to draw between life lessons and the lessons we learn from nature.  And, just to clarify, I’m not even talking about the deep in the wilderness kind of nature where you’re forced to live off the grid. An intentional walk around the block, a few hours on the beach, or a quick hike on your favorite trail can all bring the same powerful lessons.

And, while I’m fairly confident that I could share a novel’s worth on the lessons one can learn from nature, here are a few that really stand out the most.

A lesson in authenticity. 

It’s like the age old saying: “You can’t compare apples and oranges.” Sure, they are both fruit, grow on trees, and are refreshing on a hot summer day, but that’s where the similarity ends. Moreover, apple trees won’t thrive if you plant them in Florida, just like orange trees won’t thrive if they‘re in Washington State. I think there’s a good reason that food scientists haven’t created the Applange yet!

It’s a simple - okay, kind of comical – analogy that speaks volumes about Mother Nature, and about our own journey as human beings.

Truth be told, we live in a society where comparison is used as a benchmark for success. Where we must evaluate our surroundings and decide which “version” of ourselves should show up. Where we often change ourselves in an attempt to please others instead of being true to ourselves.

But how powerful would it be if we could show up – unapologetically – as our true, authentic selves? If we allowed ourselves to grow and thrive in a way that was organic and natural to our unique talents and strengths? How freeing would it feel if we accepted ourselves as-is, just as Mother Nature accepts us?

I think we could all learn a little something about authenticity from nature. Let’s look up to those apple trees proudly growing their apples (not oranges!). Let’s give a round of applause to the mountains, standing proud no matter how short or tall they might be. Let’s strive to be more like the trees, still blowing in the wind even when they’ve lost a few leaves along the way.

You deserve to stand boldly and confidently in your truth – and nature is a fantastic place to start.

 A lesson in being present.

If I asked you to guesstimate how often in life you were really – like, really, truly – present in the moment, what would your answer be?

Do you ever really sip your morning coffee without thinking about the laundry pile that needs to be folded? Do you give yourself permission to savor the simple moments, like a warm shower or a peaceful drive, without thinking about what’s for dinner or if your client hasn’t responded to your email from yesterday because you did something wrong?

The truth is, when we are surrounded by the chaos of day-to-day life, it’s nearly impossible to break away and clear our heads. And this, my friends, is where the beauty of nature can shine (quite literally!) once again.

I’ve learned that the more time we spend in nature, the greater ability we have to become more present with, and more connected to, ourselves and others. More importantly, when we give ourselves the freedom to live in the moment, we also give ourselves permission to let go of the expectations that hold us down.

Before we know it, we’re breathing in fresh air, soaking up the sunshine, and reflecting on the beautiful views instead of our daunting to-do lists.

And you know what? I truly can’t think of a greater gift than that.

A lesson in purpose.

I’m here with a friendly reminder that everything (yes, everything!) has a purpose in this life.

When I think of how this translates to nature, I think about the smallest of attributes. For instance, even mosquitos arguably have purpose. (Said no one ever.)

Albeit annoying, mosquitos do in fact serve as an important source in our ecosystem’s food chain. Similarly, that messy dirt that we track onto our shoes and into our homes is the very basis of life on earth. The rain that sometimes wrecks our plans (and our hair) is what nourishes the world around us, from plants and animals, to hikers on the Appalachian Trail.

Are you catching my drift? I wholeheartedly believe that we were all put on this earth to serve a greater purpose. I also believe that we all have the potential to serve in a greater capacity than many of us think we're capable of doing.

Of course, as with many things in life, sometimes we need a little reminder about that purpose. We need to be reminded that it already lies within us. And that the things that are happening to us are actually happening for us.

Oftentimes, this idea can leave us feeling like we need to jump ship and take up new hobbies, try out new jobs, and contribute to the world in new ways to discover our true purpose. But in reality, if you want to find your purpose, it’s best to do just the opposite. Slow down, break away into nature, trust the process and just be. (Just like those oh-so-purposeful mosquitos.)

A lesson in redefining success.

I couldn’t possibly dedicate an entire blog post to nature without touching on this lesson -- I truly believe that nature has the ability to help us detach from outcomes and expectations. It reminds us that success is often not what we anticipate it to be, and that the journey to the destination is what really matters most. Sure, the views are great (assuming the clouds don’t come rolling in…), but the journey is what leads to those everlasting stories and memories. 

Quite simply, nature teaches us to step back and take a broader definition of success. It provides us with a unique opportunity to be present with our experience as a whole, rather than simply focusing on that “pass or fail” mentality that we so often associate with goals. Doesn’t that just feel like a breath of fresh air? (Pun intended.) 

A final thought...

If you’d like to discover everything nature has to offer, I’d like to leave you with one pro-tip before I wrap up: Before you head into the great outdoors, put your phone in airplane mode and tuck it away. I promise, life will still be there when you return to your car, and that time you give yourself to truly disconnect from the busy and the noise will be the best thing you can do on your journey to mastering your mindset, reclaiming your energy, and soaking up all of nature’s very best lessons.

Need some tips for breaking away and making time for Mother Earth? Need a hiking trail recommendation from a seasoned nature-lover? Get in touch with me anytime at jenn@conshycoaching.com.

Happy Earth Day!