Going Slow When The Mind Feels Unsettled - Oct 15

In today's 5 Minutes In Nature, Liz reflects on her walk across Dartmoor. At first a moorland mist obscured the way and she had to go slowly, when it lifted the landscape opened up and she walked with confidence. She's reminded of the need to be gentle with ourselves when our minds feel unsettled and when we feel inner clarity, that's the time to stride out.

Transcript

Hello and welcome to Five Minutes in Nature with me Liz Scott. It's dark, I'm out in the village at night time and I am just taking a little bit of fresh air having been out all day with my sister. We went to the north of Dartmoor and we're on the south of Dartmoor so it was quite a long drive, An hour drive to get to where we wanted to go. But we are going to start walking the River Teane. It's spelled T-E-I-G-E-A-N-E. And it rises on Dartmoor and it comes out at a place called Tynmouth or Tynmouth as we call it here in Devon. It's quite a long walk into the moor to get to the head of the Tyn and we were a bit dubious about going because the mist was quite low. We were driving closer and closer to our start point and the mist was getting thicker and thicker and we got out of the car and we We both have got maps on our phones and we started walking and we made a decision to each other and a commitment that if either of us wanted to turn around and come back, We would. Well, We carried on walking and it was very slow. We had to keep stopping and checking our maps. Whenever we got to what looked like a path that was veering off into the mist, We stopped to double check we were not going to take the wrong path. When we crossed streams, We had to be extra careful because, Of course, We were in the mist and it was really hard to see things. And we made slow, Slow progress. It took us a long time to get not very far. And then suddenly the sun started to break through. We began to start to see blue sky above our heads. There was still mist around us. We were in a clear patch and the view opened up and suddenly we could see for miles and miles and the mist burnt off and it was just me and my sister walking across the middle of Dartmoor in the most beautiful of landscapes with views that stretched for miles. And we got as far as we could towards Teen Head and we then paused for lunch and decided that we would just take a slightly different route on the way back. Our original plan had been to stick very closely to the route we'd mapped out, But we thought we'd take a different route. And suddenly we could see for miles, We could see tracks across the moor, We could see three miles in the distance where we were heading for, So we could make choices about directions and tracks and places that we might explore on our way back to pick up our car. And on the way back, It was easy. There was real clarity in what we were doing. Stopping and checking our maps all the time. We felt free to explore different paths and try them out, Knowing that if we got a little bit stuck, We could see where we needed to get to, Or we could turn around and come back. It didn't feel as tricky as it had done earlier in the day. And as we were walking and breathing in this air and the sunshine that had come out and this day that was completely different from when we had started, We both realised something about how the mist can be like our state of mind. And you know when you feel unsettled and those misty thoughts come in and you feel uncertain and maybe you lack confidence? Well, When you feel like that, It makes sense to go slow. And that's what we did. It just makes sense, Doesn't it? And when those uncertainties or insecure thoughts or unsettled thoughts have cleared away and you have that sense of groundedness of being able to see clearly, Then it makes sense to stride out, Take paths, Try different things. You're seeing things more clearly when your head is settled. For me, When my head settles, It means I can hear my wisdom far more clearly. It rises within me, And I listen to it and follow it. So that's what I really saw today, And I'm offering to you as well, Is that When you're feeling unsettled, Maybe you're overwhelmed or anxious or stressed, Just go slow. Be gentle with yourself. Take things easy. You don't need to go anywhere fast. And when things get clearer, When you start to see things more clearly, When your mind settles, That's the time to step out in life. Let me know your reflections on today. And of course, Don't forget to join me again tomorrow for another five minutes in nature.

Reviews

This makes perfect sense Liz and the analogy of the fog clearing is perfect! When we are rushing we are not mindful and mistakes can happen. Sometimes when I’m feeling stubborn and want to get something accomplished, I tell myself to step back and set the project aside. Take a break. Go into the garden. Breathe. Or in some cases just leave it for another day. Then the ideas come, the clarity appears and things unfold more naturally.

Thank you for the reminder to slow down and be more mindful. I would definitely have less unexplained bruises if I did this more often 😂💗🙏

That feels true…. Go slow and mindfully until the mist clears. 🙏🏼and special to share it with your sister. 💕

Thanks Liz for asking how I am. 🌟 I’m going slow and mindfully after tripping over and hitting my head. Nothing broken thank dog, just very aware of how vulnerable we are .
🙏🏼

Sounds like you enjoyed the experience of the mist clearing and the skies opening.

I like my morning to start by going slow. Moving around the house in low light or near dark. Though be it living in a temporary situation it makes it bit more challenging.

Sitting outside I may need to change up my place for the trees are blocking out the starry sky. Perhaps this is what I need now is to be in a closed in spot so that when I get back home I will be more grateful for the open night sky.

I hope you don't mind these ramblings Liz? ✌️❤️