Moving from Longing to Transformation
I love the work that I do because I get to work with people who are longing for something different, and ready to make the changes necessary for real transformation.
Or, at the very least, they’re ready to be ready, and they want support putting things in motion.
If you read that and say, “Hey, that’s me!” then this is your sign to schedule a Vision Casting call where we explore what that would look like for you. These hour-long calls are complementary and sales-pitch-free, and I absolutely love getting to bear witness and collaborate on your dreams.
The longings
Sometimes my clients are longing to play bigger in their careers. Or they’re ready to listen to that voice that’s been dreaming of changing careers all together.
Other clients are facing big decisions. Do they want to pursue IVF? Are they ready to start dating again after a divorce? What would it look like to move cross-country like they’d always dreamed of doing?
Still others are ready to change how they show up for themselves. They want to have the capacity to be more patient and present in the evening. Or learn how to actually put themselves on the list of priorities, right at that top tier. Or figure out how to have the time and energy to actually pursue those creative longings.
So why haven’t these changes happened yet?
At the root are twin challenges:
Trusting that you know what you want.
Taking the steps to make it happen.
Here’s the great news: nature is a powerful ally to address both challenges.
The nature-intuition connection
Learning to trust what you want is an aspect of connecting with your intuition, and spending time in nature can be a powerful – and delightful – way to do just that.
Here's how it unfolds:
Silence the noise: Our minds are often cluttered with distractions, making it challenging to hear the whispers of intuition. Nature helps silence the noise of our busy thoughts, allowing our inner wisdom to surface.
Awaken the senses: Nature engages our senses in ways that urban environments typically don't. The rustling of leaves, the scent of flowers, the feel of the earth beneath our feet—all these sensory experiences awaken us to the present moment. When we're fully present, our intuition can speak more clearly.
Feel connected to the whole: Nature can make us feel so tiny (look at the cosmos!) and so remarkable (we are made of the same stuff as the cosmos!) at the same time, reminding us of a deep and sacred connection.
Cultivate patience: Nature operates on its own timetable, and doesn’t give a damn about the urgency of modern life. Spending time in nature teaches us patience, a quality essential for intuitive insights, which often emerge when we allow ideas to percolate and gestate.
With time, nature can become a co-creator in our intuitive journey, helping us unlock and trust our inner wisdom.
The nature-burnout connection
Connecting with the rhythms and resilience of nature connects us with the rhythms and resilience within ourselves—vital for recovering from burnout.
Find greater calm: Time in nature is a great way to regulate your nervous system. It also lessens the negative effects of stress, reduces bad moods and increases good ones. Studies have also shown that time in nature can help improve your ability to focus.
Improve resilience: Walking outside on uneven ground also keeps your brain and body more actively engaged, which can help improve your resilience.
Strengthen the immune system: Don’t be afraid to literally dig in and get your hands dirty. Phytoncides (wood essential oils, which are antimicrobial compounds derived from trees), negative ions (molecules that are found in abundance in many natural settings, like mountains and waterfalls), and forest microbes have all been shown to have positive effects on the immune system. Less illness means less stress overall, increasing your capacity to focus on the changes you want to make.
Deepen your connection with nature
Imagine my delight when I realized I’ve put together three great options to help you deepen your connection with nature – and they’re all free.
I'm not saying there's a best season, but...fall is totally the best season.
Mark your calendars for September 22 at 9a PT / noon ET, when we’ll gather on Zoom (at this link) to celebrate the balance of day and night, and the shift into a season of harvest and turning inward.
I'll guide you through a brief meditation and intention-setting for the new season, and share traditions and celebrations you can enjoy with your loved ones.
If you want to develop a regular relationship with nature, download the recently redesigned Sacred Nature Field Guide here. In it, I outline a week of simple connection experiments and go into greater detail about what the science says about the benefits of connecting with nature.
Did you catch episode 2 of the Curious Nature Podcast, which came out yesterday? We take an alternative look at productivity and achievement, one that draws lessons from nature rather than the daily grind of the 9 to 5.
We take a meandering path, exploring what it’s like to live with chronic pain, a way to think about body acceptance that has nothing to do with the scale, and why suffering is not a prerequisite for progress.
I’d love to know what longings you have that are asking to be transformed into reality. You can always book that Vision Casting call and tell me about it in real time.
