I Don’t Wanna Go Out!
How to Melt 'Downer Monkey' Resistance and Reset with Mother Nature
You want to write that story, create that thing, etc. But you just don’t feel like it. Do you ever struggle to muster energy even for things that feel good, motivate you, and lift your spirits? Today’s 5-minute creative practice calls on the power of Nature to restore your capacity: Creative prompts to exercise your imagination and soothe your sabotaging Monkey mind.
It’s winter in the Pacific Northwest. It’s always raining. Or it’s about to.
My SAD little Downer Monkey (who has a smidge of Seasonal Affective Disorder), says:
“This cloud cover weighs me down! A suffocating blanket of doom that smothers all the goodness. I feel poopy, damp, chilled to the bone. This dark rainy vibe never ends! It’s gonna last forever. Or until July 5.”
It helps me to listen to my Monkeys, instead of ignoring them or forcing them to obey my will. Even if it takes an extra bit of Heart and Soul just to get out the door.
My Soul knows:
I hear you. And it’s such a blessing to live in this seaside village, pulsing with life force. Towering cedars, luminous ferns, expansive views of the ever-changing sky, ocean waves, always in motion, always returning. Rain doesn’t want to ruin your day. It’s life-giving moisture. The natural world always nurtures your spirit!
Most people live in urban areas without this privileged access to Nature. Nature heals an overstimulated brain and restores well-being, whether it’s a trip to a park, a dog walk, tending a backyard garden, or an outback adventure. Science says so:
“Exposure to nature has been linked to a host of benefits, including improved attention, lower stress, better mood… upticks in empathy and cooperation… increases in happiness, well-being… more positive social interactions and a sense of meaning and purpose in life, as well as decreases in mental distress.”
STILL, it can take a bulldozer to pry me off the couch. Even in winter, Nature’s time to rest (despite cultural pressure to buy and get busy), a bit of time outside resets my Heart, and brings me back home inside, to feeling alive.
Today’s 5-minute Creative Practice: Door to Nature
May youconnect with the power of Nature 🙌🏽 and your sense of aliveness (you can do this on your couch, without getting out of your PJs, my fellow potatoes!) Either sit back and watch this video, featuring my alter-ego ‘Queen Poopicina’ sharing the Holy Sh*t 💩 version of the card. OR read the prompts below.
The Practice: Door to Nature
BREATHE deeply and look around.
NOTICE five things you can see, touch, hear, smell, or taste.
Now, IMAGINE a door in front of you that leads outside. Notice its size, material, texture.
OPEN the door to the natural world. Notice any colors, light, sounds, scents, wind or weather.
VISUALIZE stepping through the door to explore. Any trees, sky, mountains, or water...?
NOTICE a comfortable resting spot ahead. GO to that place and sit, breathe, and simply be.
REFLECT: “Here, I feel...” Return when ready.
EXPLORE: Tell someone or write your experience.
CREATE: Take a gratitude walk. Feel thankful for the sky, grass, trees, plants, animals, people on your path...
MANIFEST: Take a solo nature walk in a beautiful place. First, take a few deep breaths, and ask a question you really want to know, such as “How can I…” As you walk, keep your eyes soft. Notice what draws your attention. Let that image sink into your psyche. Do its qualities offer any clues, for your quest?
Where did your imagination take you? Do you feel a sense of aliveness? Receive any nuggets or insights? Any energy to create what your heart is longing for? My heart adores your likes (hearts) and comments.
Thanks for connecting with the power of Nature to soothe your tired spirit. This meditation card is from my creative oracle deck, “HeartsQuest: Creative Tools to Navigate Change,” available at HeartsQuest.com/store. A perfect gift for creative friends or family who deal with a little Monkey mind.
More to come,
