Mindfulness in Action: A Practice for Connecting to Nature

How often are you outside without really being *with* the place you’re moving through? In this Mindfulness in Action, I’m taking last week’s conversation about nature connectedness out of the theoretical space and into your body. You can do this practice while walking, running, riding, sitting outside, or even moving through your everyday life. We’ll use our senses to notice the ground, air, smells, sounds, and beauty around us. Then we’ll move into awe, compassion, and meaning. You’ll notice what changes when we stop thinking of nature as something we use for a workout or an experience, and remember that we are part of the ecosystem too. I’ll also invite you to find something old, like a tree, rock, mountain, or landscape, and let its scale give you perspective on whatever you’re carrying today. You don’t have to stop training hard or pursuing big goals, but I’ll encourage you to learn how to do those things while staying connected to the world you’re moving through. Key Takeaways - Nature connectedness is a relationship: We can shift from simply using the outdoors to noticing how we belong within it. - Your senses are a doorway to presence: Touch, smell, sound, sight, and the feeling of air can bring us back into the moment. - Awe changes perspective: Feeling small beside something ancient or vast can create space around our everyday worries. - Compassion can extend beyond people: Paying attention to another living thing can remind us that we’re part of a larger community. - The more you notice, the more you begin to notice: Connection grows through small, repeated moments of attention. LINKS \- Nature Connectedness & Well-Being with Molly Peterson & Dr. Holli-Anne Passmore \- Mindfulness in Action: Grounding in Nature \- Movement, Nature, and Connection for Optimal Well-Being with John Ratey \-------------- The Grow the Good Podcast is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.