The weather is warmer – no, it really is! Okay, the nation hasn’t yet been able to sustain the temperatures that we’d all prefer, but it is warmer than it’s been. And that means it’s time to head outside and enjoy the countryside, the seaside or your garden. Or someone else’s garden.
Just remember – you will be taking along your internal world as you explore the external one.
What good can being outdoors do us?
We all surely know by now that nature gives us a lift. The International Journal of Well Being has published many conclusive studies determining the rewards to each one of us for spending time in nature.
Being in the natural world enables us to discover the sorts of feelings that we do not get by sitting inside watching another programme on the Beeb or Netflix (although viewing nature programmes offers us some benefits too!). There is never a good excuse to ignore the call of the outdoors.
At the age of ninety-seven, my darling mother-in-law Doris was incapacitated and lived in a nursing home in her final months. One day, she asked that her bed be wheeled outside because she needed to breathe in fresh air. We, of course, made sure her wish was granted. Her journey had been a long one and she needed to feel the air on her face at least one more time. I’m certain her internal guide was leading her request.
Inhale, exhale, reflect
As you venture outside, think about what it is that you want or need at the moment, and resolve to follow your bliss! Joseph Campbell, author of many books about we human beings, including the iconic, ‘The Hero’s Journey’, explains:
“If you follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while, waiting for you, and the life that you ought to be living is the one you are living. Wherever you are — if you are following your bliss, you are enjoying that refreshment, that life within you, all the time.”
Of course, you can stay indoors as you follow your bliss, but there is something magical and creative that often shifts in your internal world when you step outside and breathe in. And should you decide to go for a walk, you will be following in the footsteps of many famous great thinkers and writers. Your creativity flows more freely when you connect your internal world with the external. Science, as ever, tells us this is definitely the case.
Final thoughts
The next time you feel off beam, out of sorts, uncertain of your next steps, and require some creative input to put you back on your path, try an outdoor path. Take that walk. If you can’t walk, get into the air and simply breathe in. If Doris could do it, so can you! Follow your inner guide – your bliss is waiting for you!
What do you do to clear your head? Share your tips with fellow members in the comments below!
Kathy Feest has a wealth of experience with writing, leadership and personal development mentoring. Kathy fulfilled her dream at the age of forty-one and earned her first University degree; she went on to complete a PhD in Medical Education. She regularly runs self-development workshops at The Joy Club so keep your eyes peeled on our Events calendar for one of her next live sessions for members.