Success in life is becoming what you want to be. Nature helps you get on the fast track to success!
Here’s how:
Everything alive is either growing or dying. To live means to grow. When you stop growing, you die.
In his classic personal growth book, “The Science of Getting Rich”, author Wallace Wattles offers this universal wisdom –
“The purpose of nature is the advancement and development of life… Every living thing must continually seek for the enlargement of its life because life – in the mere act of living – must increase itself.”
And he continues…
“There are three motives for which we live: we live for the body, the mind and the soul.”
As we immerse ourselves in the restorative, energizing qualities of Nature we begin to nurture and grow in each of these areas.
The wholesome, organic properties of the natural world help return us to our roots. Like a fish placed back in the water after nearly drying out and dying, our body, mind and soul are revived and renewed.
Not only does spending time in the wild energize and awaken us, but it brings a rest and recreation that cannot be fully replicated or manufactured anywhere else.
Nature is an endless storehouse of riches. It is in a constant state of renewal of itself. And we are a part of Nature.
The revitalizing light and warmth of the sun is a good example of this. The chlorophyll found in plants absorbs the sun’s energy and turns it into chemical energy, which is then used for growth and the production of food.
Think about this ordinary every day miracle for a moment. What a wonder it is that by trapping light energy from the sun, a plant gets its life force from something as simple and universally available as light.
We have been designed similarly. We have forgotten that the source of our life force, for each area of our being is not only affected by, but is dependent on Nature.
For Our Bodies
It is the synchronistic, dynamic inter-workings of Nature’s elements, the sun, rain, (for water), dirt, plants and trees that provide all that we need to form and sustain a healthy life. The simple movement and physical challenges found in hiking in the forest, climbing a mountain, swimming a river or the ocean, or simply walking the dog in the park, all provide the perfect combination of sunlight, oxygen and cardio our bodies so desperately need and rely on for health and fitness.
For Our Minds
Spending time in Nature not only elevates our mood, but provides a playground of challenges and learning that cannot be matched by the traditional classroom. In exploring the vast expanses of the Universe – stars, galaxies, solar systems and planets – our minds expand. The variety of diverse habitats and weather patterns found throughout the earth keep life interesting and provide relief from boredom, dullness and sameness. This is one reason we are so fascinated with travel, as well as natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning and thunderstorms.
In addition, our love for, and fascination with our wild animal counterparts all engage our minds and keep us sharp, constantly growing and learning. Curiosity and study of the universal laws of Nature, like gravity, entropy, and the theory of relativity produce minds like Newton, Einstein and Hawking.
For Our Souls
Nature provides the perfect setting of wonder, awe and amazement. Earth’s landscapes are a sanctuary for the wild soul in each of us. Mountains inspire and challenge us to greater heights and vision. Forests and woodlands invite us to face our fears and be moved by mysteries of the unknown. Prairies and grasslands not only provide a base for the foothills and mountains, but teach us to give back to the Earth through provision and sustenance. Oceans, rivers and streams provide refreshment and flow, while deserts and wastelands remind us of the brevity of life and the wisdom of silence and simplicity.
Intentionally immersing ourselves in the natural world returns us to our original and intended state, which is that of health, harmony and growth. This is why Nature gets us where we want to be faster than any other method of Personal Growth available on the planet.
Photos by Katie Smith, Jenny Hill and Jacob Postuma on Unsplash