Diversity is an especially beautiful and delightful feature of our natural world. No two places, plants, animals, or people are exactly the same, and the varieties are endless. Nature uses this diversity as an essential ingredient for evolution and sustainability. Just as nature relies on diversity, our lives and health benefit from embracing our own uniqueness. And did you know one of the best ways to tap into what makes you unique is to spend time alone, unplugged, and in nature?
To plug into your environment and reflect, first unplug from your devices. Choose a day—or even two hours—to spend time outside, and implement a no cell phone, computer and/or TV rule to save electric energy and your own energy, and give yourself space to appreciate your surroundings. Reflect on what inspires you by taking in the world around you: the air you breathe, the season’s colors and features, the people and interactions around you, the sounds and smells—it’s real life through your senses—not through an electronic device.
Unplugging allows you to detach from your habits, and opens you up to the certainty of learning something new and capturing different insights. But best of all, you tap into a diversity of wisdom and worldliness that can activate greater insight into your unique needs, purpose, and distinct and beautiful personality. You might be surprised how much you enjoy being unplugged, and decide to make this a regular habit!
- Reflect on your inner wisdom. Remember that you are the expert of your own life. Reflect on this: What were you formed to do in this lifetime? How do you want to live? What function are you meant to perform?
- Identify what nurtures you. Consider what really contributes to your health and vigor. Is it a strong community connection, or a friend who you can walk with and share emotions? Or perhaps time alone reading a favorite book? Identify what serves your life.
- Act in favor of life. Create conditions that allow for your optimal functioning. Form your environment, schedule, relationships, and home to reflect your best health interests. We live in cycles of reciprocity: disease begets disease, and life begets life. Take time to focus in on the simple things that help you function best.