Throughout the pandemic one of things that has been a constant in life has been my weekly walks in nature. Today, I even left my phone in the car, and tried to practice what the Japanese refer to as shinrin-yoku, which involves (from my understanding) slowing down, and really connecting with the senses. It’s amazing how much sensory bandwidth opens up when one decides to be intentional, focusing on what is literally right there. The tiniest mushrooms growing out of a recently fallen tree, the sound of a distant river, the smell of whatever nature smells like after a heavy rainfall.
Sure, there was that time when I thought to myself it would be nice to have my phone to capture this spectacular double waterfall, but did my best to just appreciate the now of it all. The challenge at times with being present/engaged is how much our minds are continually pumping out narratives, often revolving around the possibilities. Likewise, when those possibilities have seemingly past, the mind creates new stories of what could/might have been.
Getting caught and lost in these mind-loops can have a hefty impact, causing one to feel frustrated or annoyed, and can provoke stronger emotions like anxiety, anger, distress, even panic.
As an antidote, shinrin-yoku can be likened to the mindful practice of letting things in - including our thoughts, feelings, and body sensations, letting things be - allowing the experience to unfold and be what it is, and letting things go - appreciating and accepting what was and moving our attention back to the present moment.
The amazing part or being in nature (forest, park or hanging out with your favourite house plant) is that it’s not only a great place to mindfully engage with your senses, but also has the remarkable side effect of restoring energy, vitality and a source of rejuvenation.
The thought of leaving your phone at home and going for a walk might seem daunting, uncomfortable or even ridiculous, so you might want to try treating it like an emotional or psychological experiment. Notice what feelings, thoughts and body sensations come up for you, and remind yourself, “I’m going to let this in, let this be, let this go…….."