Archive - Page 7 of 10 - Mountain Zen Den

by Skydancer7

7 Reasons You Should Go for a Walk Right Now

Blog Cabin, Health, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development

There is a Norwegian concept known as “Friluftsliv”. Hard to pronounce, great philosophy to live by. Basically it’s about being outside as much as possible. It has come to embody Norway’s cultural love affair with the natural world. First introduced in 1859, Friluftsliv, (go ahead, try to pronounce it out loud. I dare you!), refers to uplifting ambience. In fact, the rest of us could learn a lot from the Scandinavians. According to U.N. rankings, Denmark is known as the happiest country in the world, with the Norwegians coming in a close second. You may have encountered the word “hygge” (pronounced “Hue-Guh), in recent times. It is hard to translate, but at its’ essence it embraces a conscious appreciation of being in the moment and enjoying the coziness, contentment,…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 49 – Self-Development Through Nature

Health, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Self-Development, Success, Well-being

“What the false self fears more than anything else is change.” ~ Father Richard Rohr We all have different and varying opinions on the definition of success, but I think it’s say to say that we’d all agree that success in life is becoming what you want to be. The path you take to get there is up to you, but the fact is - Nature is a major catalyst in helping us get there faster! Here’s how: Everything alive is either growing or dying. To be alive 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…

by Skydancer7

Why Nature Is the Fast-Track for Personal Growth

Blog Cabin, Nature, Personal Growth

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…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 48 – Accomplishing More By Doing Less

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simplicity

"Productivity is less about what you do with your time. And more about how you run your mind." ~ Robin S. Sharma Here at Mountain Zen Den it’s not just about spending time in nature for the sake of being more mindful, or even about being mindful for it’s own sake. We’re here to help you create and design a lifestyle, a way of living and of Being that brings you the life you’ve always wanted, one day at a time. It’s about finding joy and simplicity in the simple things, and slowing down enough to appreciate and nurture the love and tranquility that living a more mindful life brings. What is the one thing above all else that you know has to get done today? In today's show, we…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 47 – Getting Unstuck

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simplicity, Well-being

“You must learn a new way to think before you can master a new way to be.” ~ Marianne Williamson “Perhaps the Earth can teach us, as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.” ~ Pablo Neruda Do you ever feel stuck? Like a rodent caught in the rat race or the proverbial hamster wheel? We all get stuck from time to time and need a little shaking up to get out of the rut. We sometimes need a blast of fresh wind to clear the leaves and debris out of our yard, and to cleanse the impurities and stagnant air out of the atmosphere of our minds, so to speak. For today's show, we offer a short list of things you might try to help yourself…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 46 – Releasing Stress ~ By the River

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simplicity

“A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.” ~ Unknown Ever find yourself feeling stressed and anxious and not even really knowing why? You know that feeling that your mind is racing back and forth just trying to find something to worry about? I know there are plenty of things, real problems and issues that cause stress, but at the same time, there is this constant hum or buzz of anxiety that just continues like static in the background of our minds, no matter how good or bad things are going currently in our lives. As a form of self-preservation, the human mind is conditioned to remain alert and look for dangers and problems. This is how we survived since time began. But in…

by Skydancer7

MZD – Ep 45 The Mindfulness Minute

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast

“Mindfulness isn’t difficult, we just need to remember to do it. ~ Sharon Salzberg Every sunrise is an opportunity to show up for your own life. Every sunset does the same. All the moments in between these two events are opportunities to just open up and enjoy the wonders of the world, and this miracle we call life. If we don’t respond by showing up mentally and emotionally, it’s like watching a beautiful and sometimes scary and riveting movie, filled with action-packed scenes as well as tender and inspiring moments, and then either falling asleep, or being bored to death. Life is short. That's why it is so important to practice presence throughout the day in little chunks of time - "Mindfulness Minutes". A great time to practice a…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 44 – Seeking Simplicity

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simple Living, Simplicity

“Simplicity is never a matter of circumstances; simplicity is always a matter of focus.” ~ Ann Voskamp There is something so wholesome and alluring about seeking the simplicity found in Nature, and escaping the craziness and cacophony of the man-made, synthetic world. Simplicity comes in many forms, but every one of these forms involves one thing – “Presence”. When there is worry and clutter and unresolved details in your inner and outer world, it’s easy to begin to lose a sense of presence, and be tempted to either, fall back into the past, filled with a sense of guilt, loss and regret. Or, we tend to jump ahead into the future, surrounded by fear, anxiety and wistfulness –a longing for what is not yet here. Both directions steal your joy…

by Skydancer7

Developing A Nature Awareness for Personal Growth

Blog Cabin, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Simplicity, Well-being

“In the woods, we return to reason and faith. There I feel that nothing can befall me in life, - no disgrace, no calamity, (leaving me my eyes), which nature cannot repair.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson You need a daily getaway, just to relax a bit and soak your soul in a virtual hot tub of nature and simplicity; a place to set yourself up for success, and immerse yourself in nature for personal growth strategies in your life. Some find it strange putting the concepts of Nature and Self-Development in the same thought. When most of us think of Self-Development - Personal Growth for success and the achievement of goals – we think of the classics, “Think and Grow Rich”, “How to Win Friends and Influence People” and…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 43 – Tapping Into Nature for Personal Energy

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Well-being

“Where focus goes, energy flows.” ~ Tony Robbins Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, overloaded with more than you can possibly handle or accomplish, and weighted down by a lack of motivation or energy to get it all done? Are you struggling with falling asleep at night and waking up in the morning? Do you wish you had more energy, just to enjoy life and be there, fully present for your family and friends and loved ones? We’re all aware that Nature provides us with the resources we need to generate energy for running our homes and places of work, our automobiles, machines and technology. We rely on things like – Coal, Wood, Petroleum, Wind, Solar, Water for heating and sources of power. But how often do we think of turning…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 42 – Finding Your Way By Getting Lost

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simple Living, Simplicity

"Not all who wander are lost..." ~ Gandalf Do you ever feel like you’re caught on a merry-go-round, seeing the same old places, taking the same route to school or work, eating the same food, watching the same shows, thinking the same thoughts…rarely finding the element of joy or surprise in your life? There’s a saying that true happiness is when you can be on a detour and enjoy the scenery. In a world that is constantly accelerating faster and faster, we need to heed the call to learn of the Art of Slowing Down, and find the goodness and benefits that Nature has, just waiting for us to discover, partake in and enjoy. When was the last time you got lost in the woods? When was the…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 41 – A Nature Awakening

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simplicity, Well-being

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth, find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature - - the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” ~ Rachel Carson (Author of Silent Spring) A Nature Awakening for Mindfulness and Personal Growth We talk about it every day on this show, so why Mindfulness? Because life is more complete, more beautiful, poignant and worthwhile when you are awake. One of the best ways to make this happen is to set an intention and then do whatever it takes to set yourself up for success by putting yourself in places and situations that help you achieve mindfulness. For me that is spending time…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 40 – Practicing Presence

Meditation, Mindfulness, Podcast, Simplicity, Well-being

“When you love someone, the best thing you can offer is your presence. How can you love if you are not there?” ~ Thich Nhat Hanh Meditation has hit the mainstream big time as a primary way to deal with all the pressures, stress and anxiety that comes with life. It is also a great tool for achieving and enhancing relaxation, focus and even productivity. It helps optimize the brain and gives it a state of restful alertness. But I believe the best thing about meditation is it’s ability to help us be present and in the moment. How often have you gone through your day and at the end of it can barely recall what you did, who you were with or what happened that day? Life goes…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 39 – Can Nature Make Us Smarter?

Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simplicity

“Your IQ can tell you what you can do, but it can’t tell you how to do it.” ~ Oprah Winfrey There have been so many recent findings and much scientific research on the topic of nature and our overall health and well-being. Scientists are studying everything from how noise levels in our workplace and communities affect us, to what colors are the most effective psychologically for calming our spirits, and creating a sense of wellness in our lives. There have also been studies on the benefits of forest bathing – how trees affect our health, lower our blood pressure and cortisol levels, and help reduce stress. So we shouldn't be surprised by the findings that Nature is definitely good for our health, emotions and mental state, and that…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 38 – High Mountain Lake Meditation

Meditation, Mindfulness, Mountains, Nature, Personal Growth, Podcast, Simplicity, Well-being

“Nature is not a place to visit. It is home.” ~ Gary Snyder There is a place you can always go deep inside your heart and mind. A beautiful place you are cultivating deep within your being. And the more time you spend there putting in good thoughts and gratitude and images of nature and health and well-being, the more beautiful and helpful this inner retreat center becomes. Like a beautiful, tranquil garden that is daily tended with love and purpose, you will find that in your times of stress and difficulty you will have a beautiful place to retreat to. There is nothing more important that you can be doing than taking care of yourself. If you are not in a good place yourself, then neither you can…