If you've ever read anything on the subject of self-care as an introvert or sensitive type personality, then you've probably see the advice to get yourself around nature. Spend time in the natural world, surrounded by the beauty of water, trees, and animals. Away from the chaos, connecting to the natural rhythms where the human chaos, stress, and busyness are making demands of you.

There is true restorative power in feeling at one with the rawness of nature. Being forced to slow down and unplug. For the past few years we've gone on a yearly camping trip in the hills of North Wales. It's a place with no mobile phone reception. This is both terrifying and soothing in equal measure.

I find the benefits of unplugging, even just for two or three days, are huge for me. It forces me to stop, to listen, to experience the immediacy and pureness of the present moment. And I finish feeling fully restored and charged by some deep groundswell of energy.

Spending Time With Your Own Nature
Nature is not just something "out there" to go and be in. It's not a magical place, the benefits of which we can only experience by leaving where we are. There is another aspect to spending time in nature, which is what I talk about in this episode.

In fact, I think one of the reasons spending time around natural beauty can be so powerful, is because it connects us to our own natural cores. When we are away from the pressures and stresses of a workplace, technology, and the demands of everyday life, something within us is resonating. Because well hey, we are natural beings. However much we might try to fight it. We are made of the same stuff as everything we might consider "nature".

The Gardener and The Tree
It is my aim in this episode to encourage us to think about our own natures. Who we are, what we need, and where we are able to flourish best. Think about your life from the perspective of both the gardener, and the plant.

As the gardener you are actively aware and involved with creating the conditions for a plant's success. You create the conditions and prepare the environment, which will give it the best possible chances. The gardener can't force a plant to grow, but she can certainly have a big influence on it.

As the plant you are responsible for being what you are. Growing at your own pace, and not worrying about what everyone else around you is doing. You have a unique rhythm and your own seasonal cycle, which is yours and yours alone. Within your armoury you have the tools you need to flourish (roots, leaves, blossom etc), and when the conditions are right for you, then you can grow and thrive.

5 Characteristics of Nature
The purpose of this episode is to think specifically about what these two sides look like for your own situation. We will address five aspects of nature that are true for all of us (despite our best efforts to nullify them). And we will think about how we can use them to our advantage, rather than as things that hold us back.

By understanding these factors in our lives, we will gain a sense of perspective about what truly matters (and what doesn't), so that we can live with more time, less stress, and abundant sources of energy at our disposal.

Energy
Timing
Seasons
Environment
Ecosystems
Spending time in nature is a great thing. When you're told to "get out" into nature, remember to start within. Experiencing the natural world starts when we experience our own natural preferences and rhythms. It’s about going inwards to recognise how it influences our own lives. Nature is something we must live in conjunction with, not something we try to go and find "out there" as a way to escape the world.