Walk Your Problems — Nature as Coach
Reflections and Links
Today’s dispatch is a short one because of some travel for fall break with the kids. But I do want to share about yesterday’s nature-based coaching workshop!
“Walk Your Problems: Nature-based Strategies for Optimism and Resilience” was a first of it’s kind partnership between Optimistic Coaching (that’s me), Shafer Leadership Academy, and Red-Tail Conservancy.
Ten participants joined me at Munsee Woods, a former Girl Scout Camp now being restored into a nature preserve by the good people of Red-tail. We started with intros, sharing why we were all interested in this particular experience (spoiler: everyone there loves time in nature), and some grounding ideas around the concepts of optimism and resilience. We did a breathing exercise, waited for a few minutes for a downpour to pass, and then into the woods we went!
Through several guided exercises, we reconnected with nature…and ourselves. People reflected that they felt more relaxed, at ease, and able to focus on the experience without being distracted by their phones.
And that’s what forest bathing is really about—slowing down to intentionally be part of nature, not just in it or near it. Allowing nature to be a partner, a contributor to your well-being. Letting it coach you on ways of being.
Early on, I asked the participants to think of a current challenge or problem they are facing. Something that’s important to them but that isn’t resolved.
And then I told them to let it go to the back of their mind, to set it aside and not worry about thinking about the problem anymore.
This is another benefit of time in nature, or even just taking a walk through your neighborhood: it gives your consciously aware, problem-solving executive brain a chance to shift out of solving, sorting, and deciding.
The concept of “soft fascination” has been studied in recent years as a “ attending to softly fascinating stimuli not only requires little effort but also leaves mental space for reflection.” Other aspects of brain processing that happen in the background, unconsciously, may be allowed to more fully engage during these moments—which could point to why you have “aha!” moments in the shower, feel more creative when traveling, or…as you're hiking through a forest or near a large body of water. (All of this connects to the concept of awe—something that provides both a feeling of being small and an intimate connection with existence.
We know spending time in nature can feel restorative. Scientific research goes further, showing that it can reduce stress hormones (cortisol), boost immune response, elevate mood, and improve creativity and problem-solving.
Next time you’re stuck on a problem or a mood or a paradox: walk your problems and see if you don’t have a different relationship to the problem, yourself, and the world around you.
Links to Check Out
Currently (re)Reading:
Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver by Mary Oliver
Belonging / Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer (poem)
And if it’s true we are alone,
we are alone together,
the way blades of grass
are alone, but exist as a field.
Voice / Radiolab (podcast)
“Over the course of millions of years, human voices have evolved to hold startling power. These clouds of vibrating air carry crucial information about who we are, and we rely on them to push ourselves up and out into the physical world.
This week, we’re on a journey to understand how we got our unique sonic fingerprint, the power it affords us, and what happens when it’s taken away.”
On the Power of Wonder | Monica Parker / The Courageous Life Podcast (podcast)
“What I believe is that curiosity can help us metabolize difficult things. And that may be, metabolize a difficult experience. But it may also be (to) metabolize a difficult personality or a difficult conversation. If we can go into it with the maximum amount of genuine curiosity, then we may be able to find the humanity in that person and then connect in a way we didn’t think was possible.”
If you’re interested in learning more about forest bathing or nature-based coaching experiences, let’s chat!
Visit www.optimism.coach/forest or reach out by email or DM to connect!
Love this! I trust in the benefits of forest bathing and connecting with nature.
I hadn't thought about entering the woods with a prompt (to think of a current challenge) and then let it go. I love the idea of letting nature play with the challenge that you put in the back of your mind. Seems like a great practice. Alchemy in motion. Thank you for this, Adam.