From Stuck to Inspired

Here's how the trees shifted my mood and inspired me to MOVE MY QI!

It's the time of year for heightened inspiration. Nature's energy is rising, sprouting, and blossoming, and that same energy runs through us, too.

I love to feel inspired; one could say I'm an inspirational junkie. But the problem yesterday, as I sat down to write, was that I wasn't feeling it. I tried and deleted it. I poked around for some inspirational help - but couldn't find it. I sat and wrote... and deleted it.

Inspiration can't be forced. So I took to the trees.

Walking in nature is the age-old inspirational remedy. I've recently found a new grove of forest to walk through on my way to my favorite pond. As soon as I get to it, I feel a gust of fresh air and tension release. It's like visiting old friends.

There's something mystical about the space between trees. I call it BEING energy. My husband and I like to go to this magical grove to "dip into the pool of BEING" as we call it.

I brought my yoga mat and started moving and breathing amongst the trees. What a high! I felt like a child - free and blissed out. Creativity flowed through me as I found new qigong and yoga sequences. It felt effortless.

Nature really does have so much to teach us. The being-ness is where the inspiration comes from. No force, just being. The breath and being.

Stillness reveals the hidden treasures.

I also realized that I typically quickly walk through these woods on the way to my pond destination, but this is one of the best parts of my walk, so why am I rushing through it?

How often do we do this, thinking that the destination is all that matters? But truly, it is the journey that matters. The journey is where the unexpected magic is—and often the best part. The destination carries expectations that can put too much pressure on our experience. The journey is the unknown.

I've noticed this about our Western culture: we are always rushing to the next thing. When in Central America and Africa, I observed the difference in their gait compared to our stiff, swift walking. They take their time; they seem to be in no rush. There's more ease and grace in their attitude, too. There's an understanding of the value of the journey and how it's as important as the destination. They stop to smell the flowers.

So, I share this to encourage you to get out in nature, especially when you need a mind shift. Just BE in it. Listen and observe.

Breathe with the trees.

Namaste,

Maggie