PRINT
Learning to Live Week 6: Drawing Strength from Nature

Oprah.com   |   August 01, 2010
Woman outdoors
The smell of fresh-cut flowers, the sound of a waterfall, the sight of falling snow—these are all part of the beauty that nature holds. Having trouble taking it all in? Madisyn Taylor helps you connect with and give thanks to Mother Earth.
It puzzles me greatly when I hear people talk about disliking nature. I understand maybe not wanting to rough it in the woods, but to not enjoy a beautiful walk in nature truly befuddles me. To me, the earth is like a beautiful art canvas that changes each day, with a new color palette presented with every season that passes. I am honored to live upon and with her. She is always there for me like a giant hug; she is a living meditation. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't express my gratitude for nature, and each day I notice something that wasn't in my view before.

Nature is important because she helps keep you grounded when you connect with her. You feel at peace. You also feel protected and within her sounds—the whoosh of the wind, the tinkling of a stream, the drip of the rain—you hear the universe whisper to you.

If you have ever had a bad experience with nature, you may not have such a loving relationship with it. Perhaps you were the victim of a storm or earthquake. Maybe you were tormented by poison ivy or stung by a bee. Maybe you even got lost in the woods. Please know that Mother Nature was not out to get you, and your love of nature can come back if you allow it. Remember when you were a child playing in a sandbox, your parent's garden or a neighbor's yard. Perhaps you swam at the local swimming hole in the heat of summer, splashed in waves at the beach, climbed trees or played hide-and-seek in a vacant lot. Children love to be in nature because they intuitively know and understand that being outside makes them feel more playful. It feels magical, it feels free and it's rejuvenating. As an adult, you still need to have these feelings in your life in order to be fully balanced. Depending on where you live, the landscape of nature will vary, but one thing is constant no matter where you go—the peace and beauty of nature.

Try Madisyn's forest meditation Listen   

Sometimes getting outside is at the bottom of your to-do list when it should be near the top. You may think going to your child's soccer game is being out in nature, and, in fact, it is better than being inside. But I want you to spend time in nature and really be with nature. Take time to sit and be quiet, to notice, to gaze, to reflect, to feel.

Over time, when you really start to connect with the earth, you will begin to shift your thinking to a view that's more respectful of what is around you. Perhaps you will rethink the way you garden and decide to do away with harmful chemicals in your yard, or maybe you will think twice before hacking away at shrubbery or cutting a tree. As you become more in tune with what nature has to offer, you will intuitively want to start working with nature rather than imposing your will upon her.

Get this week's homework assignment
Woman writing outside
Soul Reflection:
I hope this week's assignments will bring you joy and fill you with feelings of peace as you write about your relationship with nature. If you can do this week's assignment outdoors, that would be even better!

  • Write about any negative experiences you may have had in nature in your lifetime. How did they make you feel?

  • Write about a time when you felt alive and free in nature. Was it as an adult or as a child?

  • Did you believe in magic as a child? Take time to remember how that felt, and be open to the feelings that arise.

Action:
Spend time in nature every day this week! Try sitting with your back against a tree or large rock and feel the energy flowing into you. Bring your journal and write about what it feels like to be with nature without an agenda.

Connect with Others:
Share your thoughts about nature in the Comments section at the bottom of this page.

Try Madisyn's forest meditation Listen  

Madisyn Taylor is the co-founder of the online website DailyOM.com and spends too much time on the Internet. She's also a best-selling author; her books include DailyOM Inspirational Thoughts for a Happy, Healthy and Fulfilling Day (Hay House 2008) and DailyOM Learning to Live (Hay House 2010). 

More from Madisyn Taylor:
Why you need a loving support system
Learn to be honest with yourself
Accept the life you've created
Printed from Oprah.com on Wednesday, May 22, 2013
© 2012 Harpo Productions, Inc. All Rights Reserved.