Gain Clarity Through Divorce: The Healing Power of Nature

“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.” ~ John Muir

Has your divorce left you feeling lost with no clear direction for your life?

Just as it helped to transform the life of the character in the movie “Wild” after her divorce, hiking for me has almost magical power. The vastness of the expanse before me helps to give me perspective on my life and any challenges I may be facing.

The smell of the earth and the trees, the warmth of the sun and the gentle breezes, the sound of the birds overhead, and the animal rustling through the brush nearby -all center me.

There is room to breathe and clear your thoughts, allowing you to be truly alive in the present moment. Nature can be an elixir for anxiety and a tonic for stress.

The Grounding of Mother Earth

The sound of the earth under your hiking boots, or of walking through a bed of gravel prove with each step a symbol of your determination to continue the journey; each step an attempt to regain your footing.

Along the trail, a stream flows smoothly past, providing both calm and invigoration.

Walking up and down the hills, your arms and legs prove their strength over and over again.

After some time, feeling hot and tired, you look back and see just how far you’ve traveled. The mountains that you stood on top of one hour ago now appear small and far away. Did I come that far? If I’d stood in that very spot before my journey, I wouldn’t have thought it possible. What great metaphors for the challenges you face in your life and the roads you travel every day.

Expanding Vs Contracting

Just like the earth in the winter, there are times one can feel their world contracting and becoming smaller. It’s often when you become discouraged, feel stressed and overwhelmed, or when you begin to doubt yourself and allow fear to be your master.

Feeling pulled into a small, contracted headspace can shut out positivity and possibility.

If you feel you are contracting in your life, take a step into nature, see the vast landscape and feel the expansiveness of it. It’ll remind you that you’re a smaller part of a much bigger picture, and any challenge that you are facing will begin to feel manageable.

What do you enjoy doing outdoors?  Whether it’s hiking, biking, surfing, fishing, skiing, walking, or any other activity – being outdoors can help to give you back a healthy perspective.

When you’re struggling with a personal challenge or feeling stuck or uncertain about something in your life, go out in nature and feel the healing and meditative powers of Mother Earth.

Nature connects us all to a power larger than ourselves and gives us the faith that we can surmount any challenge.