Ava McBride, MSW, CSW
As a therapist, I observe the patterns people get stuck in unintentionally and what part of the pattern can be changed for a better outcome. When spending time outdoors, I believe it can be a form of meditation to observe the endless patterns in nature and how those patterns relate to our own lives. One day while trimming up the landscaping around my home, I observed it had adopted an ultra-wild style after a few spring rains. As I began cutting back what I knew didn’t belong, I came to the realization that if I cut from the very base of the plant, I have to do way less snipping with my clippers overall. However, it took a few tries of me hacking away at the top and working my way down to learn this lesson. It made me realize we do this same pattern with a lot of our own personal struggles. We go to the quickest and nearest fix with hope that did the job, until we face the problem that is revealed from our point of view. What challenges do we dance around most of our life instead of getting to the very “root” (pun intended) of the problem? Nature shows us that a healthy pruning can inspire the most beautiful growth and ignoring a few invasive weeds can manifest the greatest headache.
Nature has a way of displaying exactly how healthy the surrounding environment is. I find this type of transparency inspiring. There is no “fake it till you make it” in the natural world. The environment that a seed is sowed in defines how the plant will grow. If the soil is composed of exactly what the plant craves, growth and abundance can be expected for the plant and the gardener. If the soil is not the right mix of nutrients or lighting, the plant will try to produce but when survival is the greatest priority, production won’t be nearly as bountiful. If we looked at ourselves and our neighbors with this in mind, how much more time would we spend tending our “garden”? Unfortunately, our first reaction is to call attention to the lack of growth or productivity without moving forward with solutions. Take some time this spring to pull away from what is draining your energy and cultivate a life where you feel nourished by your surroundings. You’ll be amazed by how your growth can benefit the whole garden.
Did you know we offer nature and outdoor therapy services, including forest bathing and sessions outdoors? To learn more, visit https://www.amandapatrickmft.com/nature-and-outdoor-therapy. For more information on scheduling, contact us at 270-943-7818 or via email [email protected]. You can also learn more about our services by clicking here: https://www.amandapatrickmft.com/services