In today’s noisy and hi-tech world we have lost a sense of intimacy with the natural world and with ourselves. We have lost the ability to live in mutually enhancing ways with Earth. And the problem of addiction to technology is growing, especially among the young. By reconnecting with Earth, you restore your sense of place in the natural world. By reconnecting with your true Self, you find renewed life meaning and purpose.

Discover opportunity for growth and renewal during times of crisis.

Current scientific evidence suggests that our human odyssey began 6 or 7 million years ago in central Africa. Earth’s climate was changing and the forests with their abundant foods were disappearing. The ape population reacted to this environmental crisis in two different ways. One group clung to life in the shrinking forests. The other abandoned its past ways and ventured onto the open space of the savannah. It developed new skills, traits and behaviors in its struggle to survive. From this group emerged a new species now known as humanity.

The story of our early ancestors holds important lessons for us. They were willing to risk and let go of a past way of living, despite the many challenges that faced them. Their new way of life led to a more curious and resilient being, one free to explore.

Life faces us with our vulnerability on a daily basis. In the midst of a crisis, acknowledge your fear. Then turn and look for opportunity. Remember that letting go leads to something new. It promotes growth and renewal.

Reconnect with Earth and see yourself in a new way.

Early humans developed symbol-making skills to share feelings and experiences in story and art. Painting, poetry and art flourished. Language, mathematics and technology captivated the human mind. Knowledge and power for survival evolved. We became a planetary species.

Early scientists assumed matter was neutral. They sought to create a better world. They put matter to use toward satisfying human desires. They considered all natural resources as available for unlimited use. In this way humans lost connection with the natural world.

Today humans consider themselves the pinnacle of creation. Scientists have found otherwise. They describe Earth as an interconnected web at the atomic level. By reconnecting with Earth we feel ourselves as part of this whole. We see ourselves and our world in a new way.

Human beings are not only linked to each other. We are connected as well to Planet Earth. Planet Earth is our home. We are members of the Earth community. We shape our environment and we also are shaped by it. We play a profound role in the intricate web of life. A sense of oneness is at the heart of being fully human and spiritually aware.

Reconnect with your true Self and renew life meaning and purpose.

Humankind had the dream of creating a better world through material progress. In pursuing this dream we have altered the evolutionary dynamics of Earth. We have done the opposite of what we intended.

Today we are witnessing the paradox of unintended consequences. The evidence mounts. We have degraded the oceans and rivers, the atmosphere and soil with our actions. The survival of an entire planet and our species depends on what we do next. We have come to a crossroads. We must consider carefully how to proceed.

Nature offers space in which your body can relax, your mind open to the present and your spirit turn to reflection. You can pause in your busy life and renew your inner Self. You can reconnect with Earth and recapture a sense of belonging to the whole. The Earth community is a sacred community shared by all living things. True progress must benefit all members. The more we know, the more responsibility we have. Our choices now create our future.

Spend time in nature. Its healing power has an energetic effect on your state of being. It impacts your mood, your immune system and the self you are becoming. Science shows that these magical effects are real. You create a new self in real time. You feel connected to something larger than yourself. You expand as a human being. You reconnect with Earth and your true Self. You return to the world with renewed life meaning and purpose.

Author's Bio: 

Dr. Mary Beth Ford is the author of Wisdom from the Gardens—Life Lessons and creator of the CD Garden Wisdom—5 Ways to Grow in Life Balance and Joy. She specializes in the area of life balance, which she describes as balance between outer world and inner Self. In her work Mary Beth shares five powerful garden lessons for living with balance and joy. She wants to help busy people live with Spirit in the world. Using nature images she offers us a new way of seeing ourselves and our world.

To live with more balance and joy, explore Mary Beth’s website at http://www.wisdomfromthegardens.com. Sign up for her bi-monthly Reflections and get a free audio gift of Garden Wisdom Secrets. Follow Mary Beth on Facebook at http://www.Facebook.com/WisdomtoEmpowerYourLife.