Hello and welcome to five minutes in nature with me Liz Scott.
Taking a walk in the evening through the village it's been such a hot day we're experiencing a heat wave at the moment and the best time of day to walk is in the mornings,
First thing in the morning that is,
And in the evening which is where I am now and I'm just taking it slowly.
It's the very end of the day and watching the birds,
The insects and just sort of the lots of people actually taking their dogs out at this time of day just as a bit of activity because it's been so hot during the day.
It's like people are now emerging into the outdoors.
And today's reflection came about because I was contemplating that one of my tasks before I get home is I need I need to go and visit my vegetable plot which is in a neighbour's garden.
She lets me share a plot of land with her to grow vegetables.
And I planted up some seedlings the other day and I'm just a little bit concerned that they might have found it quite hard in the sudden hot spell that's hit them.
So I'm going to go and give them a bit of water and encourage them with a few kind words,
Hoping that they might put their roots down into the ground and find a bit of nourishment.
Seedlings that I'm about to go and look after.
Blissfulness.
And I know that when I spoke to my friend about self-love,
She wasn't talking about being selfish at all.
She was talking about looking after herself,
Ensuring she's well nourished,
Ensuring she gets the right amount of rest in her life.
I began to consider self-love and what is it exactly?
What does it mean for me?
And I want to share what it means for me and then I'd love you to share what it means for you.
Because for me,
Self-love is an absence of complicated analytical thinking.
What seems to happen for me is that as my thinking subsides,
I find I'm more present to that space of love.
And we were talking a lot about love yesterday.
And as I become present to love,
That energy that connects all things,
Naturally what arises for me from that space is that I look after myself.
I look after myself by making sure that I eat well,
I exercise,
I get fresh air.
I look after myself by ensuring I have good quality conversations and connections with people.
I look after myself because I engage with creative activities that I find so rewarding.
But the distinction I want to make is the difference between.
.
.
Doing self-love,
Like I need to do it so I will do it,
It's like an activity to get somewhere.
And the natural occurrence of self-love,
Which I find is what is present for me,
Is that as I get more in touch with my inner compass,
That intuitive wisdom,
As I settle into that peace of mind,
That space of love,
That what emerges naturally is a desire and motivation and inclination to look after myself.
And for me,
That is self-love.
I know in the past I've seen self-love as an activity,
Something to do.
I need to do exercise.
I need to walk a certain amount of steps.
I need to have a particular amount of time on my own.
I need to mix with my friends.
I need not to mix with other people that make me feel a little bit anxious or upset.
For me,
In the past,
Self-love,
It was an activity.
It was actually quite a bit of work to make sure I provided myself with self-love.
And I wonder if you can tell the distinction of what I'm trying to express here,
Where actually self-love in the absence of thought is a very natural,
Unfolding,
Unfurling experience,
Where I just look after myself because it just makes sense to do so.
I'd love to know your reflections on self-love,
So do let me know.
And of course,
Don't forget to join me again tomorrow for another five minutes in nature.
