Simplicity Archives - Mountain Zen Den

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 119 – Why We Love the Mountains

Mountains, Nature, Podcast, Simplicity, Well-being

MZD Podcast - Ep. 119 Why We Love the Mountains “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity.” ~ John Muir, Our National Parks For this Fireside Friday we talk about why we love the mountains. And about our "Disorder". There is something so invigorating, soul-awakening, renewing, restoring, refreshing and healing about being in the mountains for us. (That’s not the disorder). The disorder we have is the let down and sadness we feel as we head down out of the mountains. For both of us, it is actually physically depressing – altering our moods and making us long and ache for them. It seems that no sooner have we left them, that we…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 97 – Perpetual Morning

Lifestyle, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Self-Development, Simple Living, Simplicity, Well-being

Photo Brett Wilson MZD Ep. 97 -Perpetual Morning Great to have you here for another Walden Wednesday, here on a Friday due to technical issues. The flip side is, every day can be a Walden Day thanks to technology! You can listen and absorb any time you like and enjoy these passages from classics like Thoreau’s Walden and others, highlighting the beauty, wisdom, and simplicity of the natural world, found in the writings of some of the most influential thinkers, writers, philosophers and poets of our past. It’s all about intentionally carving a few moments out of your day in a relaxing nature setting in an effort to affect the quality of our lives. We do this by slowing the heart and mind, down enough to absorb the thoughts, ideas,…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 93 – What Do You Really Need?

Inspiration, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Self-Development, Simple Living, Simplicity, Uncategorized, Well-being

photo Brett Wilson Welcome to Walden Wednesday on the Mountain! I want to reward you with something a little different than what we typically experience during our traditional meditation time. In past episodes we have occasionally shared passages from Walden and other great writings and literature, relating to cultivating the rich wisdom, mindfulness and simplicity found in Nature. In 1845, American naturalist, poet, writer and philosopher Henry David Thoreau decided to try a grand “experiment”. In his own words, “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.” We’re going to offer more of these classics set in nature…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den ~ Episode 87 – Cultivating Simplicity

Lifestyle, Meditation, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development, Personal Growth, Personal Transformation, Podcast, Self-Development, Simple Living, Simplicity

Cultivating Simplicity “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~ Lao Tzu Are you finding it a challenge to keep up with everything that is on your to do list? Do you ever feel tired and exhausted, overwhelmed, under-satisfied and overworked just so you can pay the bills and find a little happiness in life? Like Henry David Thoreau, I love a broad margin to my life. Simplicity can mean so many different things to people. We go searching for it in exterior things. - “If I could just de-clutter and get rid of all this junk in my life”. Or, “If I just didn’t have to work two jobs to keep up!” Or my favorite, “If I could just get away from all this madness to a cabin…

by Skydancer7

Mountain Zen Den Podcast ~ Episode 67 – Simplicity

21-Day Nature Challenge, Lifestyle, Mindfulness, Nature, Personal Development, Podcast, Simple Living, Simplicity

"Simplicity is the law of nature for men as well as for flowers." ~ Henry David Thoreau Welcome to Day 17 of the 21-Day Nature Challenge! So much of our lives are wrapped up in looking for things or other people to make us happy. We are always on the “hunt” for the next quick fix. And as we lose our souls in pursuit of more, we become more and more dissatisfied, and even miserable with what we do have, and especially with what we think we don’t have. It becomes an addiction, and in today’s modern culture we are encouraged to maintain the addiction through information and technology. We’ve lost the path to the simple. For me one of the biggest draws to spending time in 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

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 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…

Category: Simplicity