Finding Mindfulness in Nature

I was sent a copy of this book for review purposes and all thoughts are my own. This post features affiliate links

It started the day I spoke to my GP about my mental health struggles. I couldn’t get an appointment at my nearest surgery, so walked along the seafront to its sister practice. I hadn’t realised until that walk how much I needed the quiet. On the walk back, having just unloaded to the most wonderful doctor, I felt lighter and was more mindful of my surroundings.

That was the summer I fell in love with mindful photography; particularly mindfulness in nature. I noticed more details and started capturing them on camera. Just little things which I thought were particularly interesting.

Then autumn came and I found a fun creative outlet in Little Paper Swan’s #AutumnHashtagChallenge I became more aware of seasonal shifts and seeing beauty in every day, such as the sunrise on my commute, and leafy carpets in the park. I also went on more nature walks with Jenson, which made for perfect mindful photography inspiration.

We started Forest School just before Christmas and we miss it during lockdown. It was a great excuse to get out, whatever the weather, and I loved the winter morning light. Solo parenting at the weekend is hard but this was always a highlight of my week.

I also got a new phone just before Christmas (the Huawei P30 Pro) and have been really enjoying capturing details I might otherwise not have noticed.

I thought autumn was my favourite season but now spring has arrived I’m not so sure. Perhaps it’s those inbetween seasons I love the most, where you really start to see change. Nothing is permanent; this too shall pass.

When I saw that Trigger was publishing a new book on finding mindfulness in nature, I had to request a review copy. I knew I liked getting out and taking photos but I wanted to understand why it was important to me and what the benefits were for my own wellbeing.

“To seek mindfulness in nature is a meaningful part of the human experience. Delighting in the natural world, being struck by a sense of awe at the transcendent power of nature, and feeling nurtured by its depth of healing are timeless sentiments… We can feel the healing power of nature every time we step outdoors, if we can be mindfully open to the moment and are willing to be truly present in the experience with body, mind, and spirit. The combination of mindfulness with nature offers a wonderful opportunity to explore a centred, calm, and joyful state of being.” – Finding Mindfulness in Nature: Simple Meditation Practices to Connect with the Natural World by Dr Nina Smiley and David Harp

There is one particular spot we often visit for our daily walks during lockdown and I love that it seems different every day. There is always something new to marvel at and I never tire of it.

I like the saying “remember to look up”. We’re forever looking ahead or at our feet, not really taking in the world around us. We’re so busy rushing around or avoiding eye contact that we miss a lot. I’m spending more time outdoors now that we’re in lockdown than I have for a long time because I’m making sure to go for a lunchtime walk – something I never do when I’m in the office. And I’m noticing the little things, like the afternoon light when we walk in the woods, a ladybird exploring a field, and a strange plant in the park which looks a bit like an octopus.

You know what I love most? A walk along the beach, especially if I get to dip my toes in. It surprised me when I realised how much this helped ground me when my mental health was at its worst last summer. I nearly drowned a few years ago, and I’m not actually much of a fan of the sea – I don’t like to go out of my depth and I hate feeling little fish or seaweed around my feet. But there’s something almost medicinal about just getting ankle or knee deep for a few minutes.

According to Smiley and Harp, it’s about focusing my attention and distracting my mind from what’s bothering me. I focus on the feel of the sand under my feet, the sea washing over my toes, the smell of the salty water, and the sound of the small crashing waves. I’m at peace.

Plus Jenson likes exploring – we even spotted a star fish last week.

What I like about this book is that it isn’t cumbersome or big on science. It’s a paperback primarily filled with quotes about nature but with added reflections on the benefits of spending time outside and prompts for mindful activities. I wanted to share some of my favourite quotes:

• “The lack of power to take joy in outdoor nature is as real a misfortune as the lack of power to take joy in books” – Theodore Roosevelt
• “If I were to name the three most precious resources of life, I should say books, friends, and nature; and the greatest of these, at least the most constant and always at hand, is nature” – John Burroughs
• “Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree” – Emily Bronte
• “Let the clean air blow the cobwebs from your body. Air is medicine” – Lillian Russell

And suddenly it all starts to make sense!

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