Valuing Nature to Put us in a Good State

How often do we stand back to appreciate what is around us?  How often do we take a moment to admire nature and what it has to offer? When was the last time you walked in a forest, garden or park and noticed the good feeling that it gave you?

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been experiencing the value of nature.  The first situation that alerted my awareness was while running our NoLimits leadership programme in Bali where one participant, a successful Chief Executive Officer, talked about appreciating nature as one of his top values.  Although a somewhat unusual response from a CEO (he said he surprised himself too) his comments allowed me to reflect and think to myself  "This guy is right. How much do we take for granted nature that so easily forms itself around us? How often do we admire what nature has created?" The CEO further explained that while appreciating nature, he sees colours more vividly, he hears the sounds of nature more clearly and his good feelings are amplified. What a great state to be in. The next day while riding in our jeep to our training venue, the sun was shining brightly, the sky was powdery blue and the gentle breeze amplified my good feelings. I was much more aware of my environment than usual and by being in touch with nature, I could switch off my incessant self talk and pre-occupations of life. 

We were also extremely fortunate to be running our leadership programme from a wonderful, luxury villa in Bali called 'Jagaditha', where  its breathtaking views overlook the Indian Ocean and the beautifully landscaped tropical gardens are sympathetically designed to fully embrace the exquisite qualities of nature.

This is the ideal location to learn and reflect, be in the now of the natural environment and be stress free from the usual interruptions of a busy life. The senses of seeing the beauty of  nature, the vibrant colours of the tropical flowers, the blueness of the sea and skies, hearing the lapping of the waves and the birds singing and the feeling of happiness are all amplified.  By connecting with and heightening our senses we are so much more easily able to learn while these moments become all the more magical and memorable. We are able to open our minds, be more curious and learn so much more by being inspired through nature.

Another magical time with nature was when my family and I recently climbed Mount Abang in Bali with a group of friends and their children. I was completely awe-struck when I climbed along a narrow path that overlooked a spectacular lake that formed the bottom of the crater of the volcanic mountain.

I didn't know whether to be scared as I gingerly tip-toed my way forward so not to slip down a steep and rocky ravine, but as I caught a of glimpse of what was below me, I couldn't help and be amazed at the wonderful landscape.  All my other thoughts, concerns and things to do that usually keep on alerting my mind - like a pop-up screen on the internet - stopped, as I climbed the mountain and caught glimpses of the dramatic, jagged peak capped view that took my breath away.

How often do we admire what nature has achieved? Do we appreciate the qualities of nature and what a good emotional state it can give us? Albert Hofmann, the man who discovered the psychedelic effects of the drug, LSD and took it quite a few times as part of his experiments, noted that you can easily get to that same place of wonder and ectasy by simply wandering a long forest path, or watching the wind blow a field of yellow chrysanthemums.  His advice to get into a good state was to:-

"Go to the meadow, go to the garden, go to the wood. Open your eyes."

Start opening your eyes, admire what nature has created and notice the good state that it puts you in.

Janet

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