Mindfully Matching Our Nature to Nature (Season 5, Episode 6)

The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the universe, to match your nature with Nature.

—Joseph Campbell

There is no doubt that being in nature and allowing our senses to mindfully absorb our surroundings can calm us and ground us. Not so much a discovery of the benefits of nature, in my opinion, but rather remembering that we are an essentially part of nature, not just surrounded by it.

REconnecting mindfully to the natural world around.

In this week's quote, writer and scholar Joseph Campbell reminds us how essential it is to remember this connection to our natural world. Of course, the easiest way to rediscover this connection is to simply BE in nature, to take time to walk or sit in the woods or on the shore, to float in the water or hike in the mountains. But what about those days when you just can do that? That's when mindfulness and meditation can help!

In this week's Friday Focus episode, I promised some resources to help bring the natural world into your daily meditation, so here they are!

• Calmed by Nature channel on YouTube offers some wonderful natural ambient sounds to play during mindful meditation or just as a calming background soundtrack to your day. If you utilize this for mindful meditation, focus first on your breath, then expand to your senses, allowing the sounds to come and go, just noticing.

• A great way to experience OM meditation is here with Tara Brach. Tara offers so many wonderful meditations on her website. I encourage you to explore her offerings.

• I know we are moving into Summer but check out this Springtime meditation here.

Now, let's go out, live with intention, love like crazy, match our nature with nature, and have a great day!