On the path of the Jedi
Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. you must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes - Yoda
Master Yoda is a role model for many and I for one am someone who takes his wisdom seriously. Wondrous if I have but a mustard seed of his ‘swagger’ such as when he called lightning down on the irreplaceable Sacred Jedi texts laughing as he schools the last living Jedi master of the time, Luke Skywalker. What keeps even a 900 year old Jedi master spritely is regular recharging. After such a harrowing experience like having your entire order massacred, Yoda exiled himself to the planet Dagobah, a pure haven abundant with life and nature. The message is clear: When your 🪫 is red, you need to slow down and go Green 🐢. Perusing my own special copy of Jedi texts, the masters advised to “see the bigger picture”. Without hesitation I laced up my boots, filled a bottle of water and walked outdoors.
One of the biggest reason that attracted me to spend a year in Sweden was because of its rich nature vistas consisting of lush forest coverage, 90,000 lakes and 3,000 kilometres of sea coastline. Our connection to nature is essential to being well, to being human and to being truly alive. Research is clear on that, communing with nature is “not a nice to have, but it’s a have-to-have for physical health and cognitive function”
Communing with Nature helps with
Stress Reduction: Nature exposure has been shown to reduce levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and lower blood pressure, promoting relaxation and reducing the physiological effects of stress.
Improved Mood and Mental Health: Spending time in nature can boost mood and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression. Nature has a calming effect on the mind and is associated with positive emotions like joy and awe.
Enhanced Cognitive Function: Being in natural environments can improve cognitive function, including attention, memory, and creativity. Nature helps to rejuvenate the brain from mental fatigue caused by everyday demands.
Physical Health Benefits: Nature encourages physical activity, whether it's walking, hiking, or simply being outdoors. Regular physical activity in natural settings promotes overall health and reduces the risk of chronic illnesses.
Connection and Mindfulness: Nature fosters a sense of connection—to the environment, to others, and to oneself. This connection promotes mindfulness and a deeper appreciation for life.
Restoration and Recovery: Nature provides a restorative environment that allows us to recover from mental fatigue and replenish our cognitive resources. Natural environments have been found to promote healing and recovery from illness or injury.
Slightly off the beaten track
Bear with me as I want to elucidate a lesser known practice we can do in nature after a brief digression. Pay attention to the way we communicate and you will notice the common use of metaphors (read my post on metaphors here). Even in different languages metaphors are common. I speak a few so let me share some: in Malay I was called “kaki bangku” which literally translates to “bench legs” which was meant to explain my inability to play soccer. Imagine me trying to kick a ball with both my legs locked in tandem, transferring any useful force to the ball is a practice in futility. An apt metaphor as my approach saw me frequently “benched” during soccer practice, reinforcing the metaphorical label.
In Chinese 独木不成林,单弦不成音 (A single tree makes no forest; one string makes no music). A much more powerful way to communicate the importance of collaboration if you take it for its metaphorical sense. Trees and forest cuts across cultures as all of us are simply inseparable from nature.
Looping back to the aforementioned lesser known and researched nature practice is what is called “Grounding”; the act of having our skin come in contact with the earth or soil. Nature is a fertile ground for metaphors and even without diving deeper into what little science there is of it, having a metaphorical lens can help provide a sense of possible benefits. To be labelled ‘grounded’ can call to mind a sense of taking root, reconnecting with basics, resetting back to base. Downsides to spending some time barefoot outdoors are few, perhaps the worse I can think of is tracking dirt back home i.e. grubby feet.
Meandrousity
We can find many answers by going into nature. Contemplating how tiny things like seeds grow into tremendous trees is like how small habits can lead into inspiring identities. Seeing how there is beauty in the imperfect asymmetry of growth is like how having a plan is essential yet knowing when to pivot is life altering.
Awareness on how balance is achieved even in the never ending jumble of seasons, weather and terrain is like seeing how our emotions, both positive and negative, for what it is: a guide to our values and its endless churn teaches us resilience.
We can’t always control the waves of emotion that crash into us. But we can learn to ride them more gracefully. Emotional intelligence starts with choosing not to be victims of our moods. By noticing what causes them, we find clues on how to change them - or at least manage them - Adam Grant
Shine like the luminous being you are, grounded in the Force that permeates the trees and the rock and between you and me.