Nature is a beautiful way to stop the monkey mind in its’ tracks.
What is the monkey mind? 🐒 🧠
“Buddha described the human mind as being filled with drunken monkeys, jumping around, screeching, chattering, carrying on endlessly. Fear is an especially loud monkey – screaming out all the things that could go wrong.” Source: HuffPost
When we’re caught in a loop of anxious thoughts, our amygdala goes into overdrive. Causing us to get stuck in the basement of our brains (the limbic system) where our stressful thoughts go around and around. With no end to the downward spiral in sight.
B R E A T H I N G S P A C E
Time in nature gives us a chance to catch our breath, to see the light, to realize there’s a way out of this never-ending rumination loop.
The Healing Power of Nature
The impact of nature on the human spirit is so profound that a hallmark study in 1984 showed that patients who had a room with a view healed faster than patients without a view. A mere glimpse of nature was enough to enhance their resilience.
Hope
Nature shifts our thoughts. Expands our awareness. Gives us hope. Lifts us up from the basement of our brains (amygdala) to the penthouse (cerebral cortex) where all solutions are possible.
“And into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul.”
Related Video: Five Grounding Techniques
Thriving Under Pressure 
Monkey mind – what a great description!
I know! Right?!
Those darn monkeys love to swing from branch to branch. As do our thoughts from neuron to neuron. And back again……
(Buddha is one cool dude. He always knew.)
Follow up article below. 🐒 🧠
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/buddha-how-to-tame-your-m_b_945793
Most importantly, I hope you enjoy mother nature’s cure for the anxious mind today: Fresh Air & Sunshine ☀️💐
Beautiful way the way you penned the post
Thank you! I wanted to take readers on a journey from darkness to light. Helping you and me (equally) to realize that even though problems may be complex — the solutions are often simple (on repeat). The key is to take the first step. Mother Nature will heal (almost) all the rest. 🌹❤️
So true and thank you for the share
My pleasure! 🍃💚
It is so true about nature being a relaxing soothing ointment in our lives.
I have done staycations and even traveled to other large cities.
It doesn’t soothe my soul.
Now, I go on a vacation where I am surrounded by nature and the beauty of this wordl
and it is rejuvenating.
Good post. Have a great day.
I love how you vacation!🌲❤️
Nature is the ultimate escape.
Nothing like nature to calm the senses and help give perspective to your place in the universe. Thank you for your post.
My pleasure Terre!
My senses are calmer by simply reading your note.
Wishing you a day filled with sunshine ☀️
Thank you for this well timed post. Those monkeys can be relentless!
Right Syl?! Those darn mind monkeys 🐒😊
Giggling about them together always slows them down
Thank you for always brightening up my posts 🙏 ☀️
I definitely intend on keeping them slowed down 😄
Thank you so very much, Andrea and know that you are very much appreciated 🙏🏽✨
Aww thank you!
You just brought the biggest smile to my face.
Too big a smile to fit into a small emoticon.. : – D
That is wonderful and a win, win for us both.
Have a wonderful day 😊
You too!
😀
Nice reminders Andrea. Nature is my go-to for general well being. I don’t really pay attention to monkey mind anymore, neither fighting or trying to get rid of it.
I love how you just let the monkeys play.. giving them no time or mind, Brilliant 🌲🐒✅
Thanks. Sometimes they get my attention. 🐒
I once timed it. It’s an 18 minute drive from downtown Colorado Springs (near where I live) up Ute Pass to the nearest Colorado Wilderness. If it were not for the fact my closest friends come first, the number one reason, Andrea, that I live in this town would be it’s easy access to wilderness. The value you place on wilderness resonates with me.
Beyond that, I once read of a study done some years ago that found the amydala’s of depressed and anxious patients were firing about twice as long as healthy patients in response to the same stimuli.
Years ago, I went some months spending hours each day sitting in meditation in natural settings — such as by my favorite lake at the time. No TV, no radio for months. Just four to eight or more hours a day meditating in nature.
You know, after about two weeks, you find the flight of a single midge dramatic and fascinating. Your sense of time becomes tuned to the slowly changing colors in a sunrise. And — more to the point — you can calmly deal with anything life throws at you. Nothing makes you fearful or anxious. You can deal with anything.
Superb post! One of my favorites now. Thank you so much for it!
I love the adventure of both your environment and your writing Paul! Transports me to another place every time! 🦅 🐜 🌲
Oh yes I am loving this. Nature does it for me too. I’ve been working in my gardens a lot lately and I’ve noticed I feel so much better when I do. Love this post! Happy Thursday to you! ❤ xo
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Nature can calm our “Ego”
Go many miles into nature. If you run into a bear, do you announce who you are to him. The bear does not care what our name is, who we think we are.
Out in nature who we are loses importance.
Andrea, I’ve taken the liberty to write a post inspired by yours. No obligation to read it, of course.
https://cafephilos.blog/2019/03/28/the-power-of-nature-to-combat-anxiety-dread-and-fear/
Thanks Paul! I will check it out ✅
I love how we inspire each other.
The magic of blogging 🌟 ✏️ 💥
Nature does it for me!
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Nature is my #1 de-stressor! ❤
Amen Eliza! #natureheals
Nature sure does, and I also write about it from time to time, and have a firm view that nature is healing.
❤️🌲❤️