Day 12: Can Nature Help Us Lead Mindfully?

When was the last time you stepped out in Nature?

Many studies have shown that nature based images, sounds, and walking in nature can have a positive impact on our well-being. The human mind is seldom quiet, and when you add in the extra stressors of COVID-19 and other concerns, we are asking our minds and bodies to be working overtime!

It is difficult to be a present coach and leader if you are unable to calm you own mind chatter!

The Coaching Nest was inspired by my own discovery of how integrating nature and mindfulness together can propel the development of leadership and coaching presence.

What leadership and life lessons could you see in nature?

In the next week, I urge you to take a moment or two to fill your lungs with fresh air and observe what is happening in your backyard or neighborhood. Use all your senses, all the sights, sounds and smells to ground yourself in the present!

What would it look like, feel like and be like to:
Notice the sky, listen for the birds, and take in the trees. Notice what nature has to say to you each morning. Nature can help us relax because it calms the part of our brain that is responsible for our fight or flight response.
Sounds like a river flowing, rain falling, birds chirping, and waves crashing are all perceived by our brain as non-threatening.

If you cannot physically get out, could you look at a picture that depicts nature? Imagine a nature scene that brings you peace, or find a nature based meditation to help you relax during the day or night!

Remember to Breathe in the Present and Breathe out the Past, letting nature ground you in the present!

I urge you to open your ears, eyes and skin to the gifts that nature can bring. You never know, maybe a leadership lesson may emerge!

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”  Albert Einstein