What To Do When Nature Feels Uncomfortable

Photo by Vikesh Kapoor

I’ve been thinking a lot about presence lately and how uncomfortable it can feel to be present when we live in a society where distraction is so strongly encouraged.

When I’m out in Maine, surrounded by the trees and the ponds and the animals and the bugs, with no distractions at all, the environment can actually feel quite uncomfortable for me because being so close to nature forces me to be in my body in a way that I’m not familiar with. 

I used to feel really bad about the fact that I would experience discomfort when I’d come out here, but I now understand that the feeling comes because the way of life is unfamiliar to me and not because it’s incompatible with my authentic self, which is a really important distinction to make.

I invite you to check in with yourself the next time you feel a bit of discomfort in nature and ask yourself whether that discomfort comes from the experience being unfamiliar or whether it truly feels inauthentic. Our path back to nature can unfold one step at a time and it’s possible to feel uncomfortable now and then. We can move towards the natural world no matter where we are along the path, and I hope this podcast gives you an invitation to lean in.