Mountain Zen Den Podcast

Episode 77 - The 3 Soul Questions

(A Dialogue With the Universe)

"Your own reason is the voice of God himself which speaks to you and all mankind without an interpreter." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

It's important to ask questions. There's a scientific, psychological reason that we need to do this if we want to grow.

When you ask questions you set into motion the thought process of solving a problem. Like a dog chewing on a bone, the mind is constantly working on solving problems and answering questions. It's what the brain was designed to do. That is why it is so important to ask the right questions,

Some questions are simple and have simple solutions:

"What am I having for dinner tonight?" Or "What time do I need to get the kids to their soccer game"?

But then there are the BIG Life Questions. The deep ones that, for one reason or another, we may tend to avoid.

As we go into this meditation we are going to ask The 3 Soul Questions…probably the most important questions you will ever ask yourself in this life.

So as we dive into today's meditation I will help guide you into having a dialogue with the Universe, and then encourage you to simply Listen as you sit in silence and breathe. Don't worry if no answer comes to you immediately. There is no need or place for anxiety here. The truest, deepest, most meaningful answers will come in time. You can rest assured in that.

In today's meditation we ask The 3 Soul Questions:

"Who am I?"

"What do I want?"

"Why am I here?"

(In other words, "What is my meaningful contribution to the Universe? Why am I here? How can I serve?")

Don't worry if the answers don't come to you in this meditation. Just ask the questions and allow them to sink deep within, trusting that your soul and the Universe, the Supreme Being, or your Creator, whatever you choose to call It, will work this out together.

Remember, it is a dialogue. Ask and then Listen.

Welcome to the Mountain!

Have you ever heard the term Quantum Creating?

It is what you and I are doing when we basically "visualize" something into existence.

What is Quantum Creating?

Now don't worry. We're not jumping off the deep end here into Woo Woo Land. What I'm about to share here dates back to DeCartes, Sir Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein and Steven Hawking. It is so exciting to learn about the recent studies of what science has been discovering regarding the nature of reality.

The evolution of the understanding of Quantum Creating has taken giant leaps within the last decade or so.

You see, there is a Universe of infinite possibilities whereby we can create the world of our dreams.

The concept is extremely deep, and yet quite simple.

When we begin using our (subjective) mind to have an affect on our (objective) world, we are "Quantum Creating". Where it really starts to get good is when you learn to focus on what you want, instead of what you don't want.

In his book "Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself" Dr. Joe Dispenza points out, "The observer effect in quantum physics states that where you direct your attention is where you place your energy."

And that means basically that you get what you re looking for.

Do you see why just a little earlier I asked you to stop and focus your energy and attention on the natural world around you?

When we begin to understand the science behind quantum creation and apply its truths to every area of our everyday lives, we almost immediately begin to see change for the good. That is, if we set our focus and intentions on "the good".

Let's take this into the world at hand. For instance, say you want to learn how to play a new instrument, lose a little weight, gain a little muscle tone, or even learn to lower your heart and respiratory rates a bit. There are measurable, definable actions you can take to create the end result you are looking for.

For most of us, the problem isn't the one-time change. The problem is maintaining the change that gave us the positive results.

Why is this?

Dr. Dispenza posits that we can use our minds to create our reality. He says,

"Over time, (this could even be decades for many of us), our "mind-bodies" have created a chemical cocktail that is set and maintained by a complex system of neural pathways that are wiring and firing, without us having to even think about it.

This chemical cocktail is our "mind-body's" normal state of being and makes us feel comfortable and familiar – at home – so to speak, even if it is a negative setting or unhealthy state of being.

Unhealthy states of being such as guilt, anger, fear and helplessness are all habits we have learned, owned, cultivated, allowed and maintained as a way of "being" and even identifying ourselves by. The ego loves these mindsets and will go to great lengths to hold onto them. Even if it means our long-range demise.

In Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself Dr. Joe Dispenza, discusses how Quantum Physics works. In the chapter called "The Quantum You", he shares how, if you want to change yourself, you have to overcome what he calls the "Big Three":

1. Your Environment
2. Your Body, and
3. Time

He reassures us that "with willful attention, sincere appreciation of new knowledge, and repeated daily efforts, you can use your mind, as the observer, to collapse quantum particles and organize a vast number of subatomic waves of probability into a desired physical event called an experience in your life." Now that is a big mouthful, but it basically means that in doing so you can influence the appearance of any possibility, or desired outcome you desire in life.

Remember, these studies are backed by scientific facts and research that don't have to be completely understood in order for them to work or be true, any more than you have to understand the law of gravity to keep from floating away. However, if you find this sort of information fascinating, or need a little more proof before being led down the garden path, I highly recommend you give it a read.

When discussing the environment Dr. Dispenza says that in order to make material a reality of our own choosing, or to "enter the field", we have to enter a similar state. As a nature lover what better state can you imagine being in than one that is wild and natural and beautiful?

This is one of the main premises of Mountain Zen Den ~ Personal Development for Nature Lovers.

If you can attract what you want when you are in a state greater than your environment, why not place yourself in the greatest environment you can possibly think of? Nature.

Now I realize that most of us can't just up and teleport to Glacier National Park, the Grand Canyon, the Redwood Forest, or a tropical coconut island filled with palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze framed by incredible sunny blue skies. That is where these meditations set to nature sounds come in. They are meant to help inspire and facilitate a relaxed, natural Theta and Delta state that will help create the desired changes in your brain that are necessary for you to slow down, destress, and visualize your ideal self and life.

Join us for today's meditation.

On my writing desk sits a plant I named Emerson. He's just a little guy not even a foot tall, including his pot. He's a Pachira aquatica, also known as the money tree, Guiana chestnut, or saba nut. Emerson comes from Miami, Florida, a place much warmer than where he now lives.

The two things I love most about him, (not trying to be sexist here, he could be a her, except I named him Emerson), is that, first of all, he has four miniature trunks that have started to be molded into a beautiful braid, ending in beautiful green lanceolate leaves that grow in clusters of 3 to 5 leaves per stem.

The second thing I love is that due to the fact that he is a tropical tree thriving in wetlands and swamps, he is virtually kill-proof – pretty much immune to over watering. These dudes love water so, if you're like me, you don't have to worry about any over watering disorders you may have, due to the fact that you underwatered all the plants you tried to grow in the first half of your life.

The reason he sits on my desk is that he has a job; and that is to inspire me and help give me a "Nature Fix". Especially on days like today when it's literally 12 degrees outside and my dogs look at me like I suggested they jump off the deck of the Titanic when I open the door and ask them if they want to go for a walk.

Emerson sits on my desk next to the books that I am currently enjoying, and he doesn't seem to mind when I touch his leaves whenever I have the impulse or need to get a little nature-fix.

We all need Nature. It's just that some of us feel the need more urgently than others. If you are looking for a way to feel close to nature in the dead of winter, you might consider buying a few indoor plants and studying and learning more about them. (A favorite hobby of mine is growing and killing bonsai trees. Not that I particularly enjoy killing them, or purposely try to neglect them – in fact I love them and think that they are so inspiring and beautiful. It just seems that as a collective, most bonsais are really particular about their owners, and would rather commit suicide than put up with an ignorant and irregular watering schedule. Still, I do have a particularly good relationship with a large Juniper named Mr. Miaggi that has seemed pretty happy in our household for the past couple of years. So I haven't completely given up hope yet for my life as a bonsai caretaker!)

Here are a few other ideas for getting your "Nature-fix" on a cold winter's day –

• Taking a trip to your local library, Barnes & Noble, or other cool bookstore and hanging out in the Nature section. If you have a good collection already, you might try studying a field guide or reading a great nature book or novel set in nature.

(A few examples include – "The Nature Fix" by Florence Williams, "The Nature Principle" by Richard Louv, any book by Annie Dillard such as "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek", and of course Henry David Thoreau's brilliant contribution, "Walden". Right now my wife and I are enjoying "The Dog Master" by Bruce Cameron, (the same guy who wrote "The Dog's Purpose". It takes you back in time to the first relationship between wolf and man, and how it evolved into the relationship we now enjoy with our canine companions. It's a pretty coo read.

• You could get your fix by studying hiking trails and travel maps you plan on doing or exploring in the next year. Melissa and I set aside sometime yesterday to just get away to a coffee shop and plan our hikes, travels, nature adventures, and 14ers we plan on climbing this year. It's a great way to set an intention and have something to look forward to at the same time.

• Try revisiting your old nature journals, or sketching in a new one. This can have a calm relaxing effect on your spirit as it takes you on a virtual journey into the natural world.

• Watching inspiring movies set in nature such as "A River Runs Through It", "Dances With Wolves", "The Call of the Wild", "Never Cry Wolf", "Into the Wild" and "Fly Away Home" just to name a few of our favorites.

• Create your own Nature Zen Den filled with natural inspirations such as a Zen Garden, a beautiful water fountain, wind chimes and nature sounds, plants, Nature pictures and artwork, as well as pine-scented candles and lavender oils, patchouli incense, and so on. The key is to try to appeal to all the senses for the full Nature effect, which is so good for relieving stress and creating feelings of well-being.

These are just a few suggestions for helping you get you Nature fix on days when you can't get outdoors. Try being creative and come up with some ideas of your own. You'll find it's well worth the effort!

No go get your "Nature Fix" for the day!

Happy New Year! Welcome back!

Yes, it's been quite awhile since we last met here at Mountain Zen Den. And while a lot has happened, I'll save some of the details for upcoming shows, but just so you know, all is well, we're back and better than ever, broadcasting from the foot of the Rocky Mountains in beautiful snowy Colorado here on New Year's Day.

I've heard from so many of you thanking us for creating this mindfulness in nature podcast. I really appreciate the gratitude you've expressed, and all the encouraging messages and stories about how you've been inspired by the meditations and insights offered here. I can't tell you how much that means to me. Thank you!

For those of you who've been asking if we were going to be doing more shows? The answer is, Yes. We are picking up where we left off with even more of a focus on helping you tap into Nature for mindfulness and personal growth in your life – Naturally!

But first off, more than ever before, we really want to emphasize, inspire and encourage you to become the best version of yourself. Imagine what the world would look like, and how we could impact our families and friends, our community, our country and the planet if we all made the decision that in 2019 we would choose to become the best version of ourselves, whatever that was!

In his classic, "The Road Less Traveled", psychiatrist and best-selling author M. Scott Peck opens with this enlightening statement –

"Life is difficult. This is a great truth. One of the greatest truths."

Sounds discouraging doesn't it? But he gives hope in the very next sentence.

"It is a great truth because once we truly see this truth, we transcend it."

And that's the point of today's episode – transcending the difficult by purposeful decision making. Learning the difference between making Decisions vs. setting Goals. So let's jump right in.

How do we transcend the road blocks, difficulties and tough situations that seem to suddenly appear once we have set a goal to be or accomplish something? Have you ever noticed that? This reality has caused millions to give up before they even start, or just as bad, to not set any goals at all.

But there's good news. Rather than set a goal, why not make a decision?

Life coach and best-selling author Tony Robbins points out that "the minute you make a new decision, you set in motion a new cause, effect, direction, and destination for your life. You literally begin to change your life the moment you make a new decision."

Whereas, on the other hand, New Year's resolutions and goals have come to be associated with failure after the first month, week or even day after they have been made, a decision is a done deal when you have absolutely committed to achieving something. Once you've decided, truly decided, and are persistent and relentless in pursuing your decision, nothing can stand in your way.

So the question is, what do you want to do, achieve, learn, accomplish, experience or become in the New Year? In what areas do you want to grow?

Don't be put off by this simple question. It doesn't matter if you're 12 or 102, we all have dreams and ideas of what we would like our ideal life to look like. The fact is, anything that is alive is either growing or dying.

As Wallace Wattles says in "The Science of Getting Rich",

"Every living thing must continually seek for the enlargement of its life because life – in the mere act of living must increase itself."

So with all of this in mind, let's enter the first meditation of the new year with a passionate pursuit of growing to become the very best version of ourselves.

Mountain Sunrise...

"The goal of life is to make your heartbeat match the beat of the Universe, to match your nature with Nature." ~ Joseph Campbell

There's no denying it. One of the best qualities about Nature is its ability to inspire. Think about it. Things don't inspire Nature. People don't inspire Nature. We can affect and impact Nature, but all inspiration comes from the Design and the Designer. Not the other way around. It is the Original.

Why is this? Why are we so moved and potentially transformed by the natural world? What is it about Nature that is so stirring and uplifting…?

When you find yourself in a wild and beautiful, natural place like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Napali coast of Kauai, or maybe even a wildlife preserve or national forest closest to your neck of the woods, you cannot help but find your mind and spirit elevated several notches higher than usual. It's like the lid has been taken off of your old self, and you are able to see the world and the entire Universe for what it truly is – a place that has been designed for us in which to enjoy and grow in, and reach our full potential - an endless incubator of creativity and expansion, advancement and personal improvement.

If you find yourself drawn towards the healthy, inspiring, restorative benefits of God's great creation, you're not alone.

Here's a reminder of a few well-known people down through the ages who were inspired by Nature – Aristotle, Isaac Newton, Thomas Jefferson, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Teddy Roosevelt, Einstein, Darwin, Monet, Ansel Adams, Jacque Cousteau, John Denver, and even more recently writers and celebrities like Cheryl Strayed, Mariel Hemmingway and Oprah Winfrey.

Not only does Nature inspire people, but it has inspired inventions and architecture.

Some inventions inspired by Nature include –

• Velcro from burdock burrs with their hooks and catches
• Natural water filters through biological membranes
• Adhesives from gecko feet
• Highly efficient wind turbines simulating wake vortices produced by schools of swimming fish
• Bacteria-repelling surfaces for hospitals, bathrooms and restaurants from shark skin
• LED's (light emitting diodes) from fireflies, and
• The Japanese high-speed bullet train gets it's design inspiration from the highly aerodynamic kingfisher, just to name a few.

Architectural wonders that have been inspired by Nature include –

• The Beijing National Stadium – Nicknamed the "Bird's Nest", this inspiring structure will once again host the 2022 Winter Olympics.
• New Delhi's dreamlike Lotus Temple with it's 27 marble petals arranged in groups of three to form nine sides opening to heaven.
• The spiraling Helix Bridge in Singapore, inspired by the double-helix structure of a DNA molecule.
• The Tapei 101 – Modeled after a bamboo stalk, this 101 story Chinese structure with tinted green glass was the tallest building in the world when it first opened in 2004.
• The Sagrada Familia, an incredibly intricate Roman Catholic Church in Barcelona, which depicts the relationship between humanity, nature and religion.

If in your journey of personal development you find yourself in need of creative inspiration, rejuvenation and renewal, step outside. Get into the real world and find your center and inspiration once again.

Author, Catholic priest, cultural historian and ecotheologian Thomas Berry reminds us, "Our species once had two sources of inspiration and meaning - religion and the Universe, the natural world. But we have turned away from nature. The great work of the 21st century will be to reconnect to the natural world as a source of meaning."

So glad you're here! Join us for today's show and be Inspired by Nature...

"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it." ~ Robert Swan

Welcome to the Mountain…

Here at Mountain Zen Den, as a community, we're all about living a beautiful, fully-present, healthy, natural (Nature-based) Lifestyle - not only getting back to the Earth, but giving back to the Earth as well. Nature is the most generous and giving friend when fully appreciated and taken good care of.

If you had your choice, would you rather live in a stagnant, man-made plastic world or a healthy, vibrant, clean and natural one? Sort of a no-brainer, I know.

Astonishingly, we humans have become weapons of mass destruction.

Why do I bring this up right now? Well, this Sunday, April 22nd is the 48th birthday of internationally celebrated Earth Day!

This year's Earth Day Theme is "End Plastic Pollution".

From the Earth Day 2018 website:

Plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and land, injuring marine life, and affecting our health!

Help End Plastic Pollution by finding out how many plastic items you consume every year and make a PLEDGE to reduce the amount.

Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behavior about plastics."

Here's a few statistics to blow your mind and bring you up to date:

According to the American Museum of Natural History, since the first Earth Day in 1970, our population has doubled from 3.7 billion to nearly 8 billion people on the planet. We are emitting 2.4 times more CO2, causing temperatures to rise. Sea ice has melted 13.3% decline per decade causing sea levels to rise 10.8 cm higher worldwide.

Sadly, wild animal populations have shrunk – Land animals by 38%, marine animals by 36%, and fresh water animals by an alarming 81%! Since 1970, over 170 animal species have been declared extinct.

And we are currently losing over 15 billion trees each year. That's 56 acres of forest every minute!

But there's hope. On the flip side, in many ways our world has also changed for the better.

President Richard Nixon signed the clean air act in 1970. Even as we've used 44% more energy, driven 184% more miles, and seen our economy grow 246%, key pollutants have decreased by a whopping 71%!

New cars, buses and truck are 99% cleaner. And unleaded gasoline means over 90% less lead in children's blood since 1970. In 1972, the U.S. banned the chemical insecticide DDT. Since then bald eagles have returned from the brink of extinction.

In 1987, the world banned CFCs, (Chlorofluorocarbons used in aerosol sprays), which were depleting Earth's ozone layer. As a result, ozone-depleting emissions are now down 98%, and the ozone layer has stabilized and begun to recover, preventing an estimated 2 million skin cancers per year.

And finally, in 2015, 197 countries agreed to dramatically reduce CO2 emissions, and the ozone layer is projected to return to 1980 levels by 2050 – 2070. Each year more than 1 billion people participate in Earth Day activities.

So what can we do? You and I?

First of all, as a committed and mindful "Citizen Naturalist", that is, one who cares about Nature and preserving and protecting our planet, we can educate ourselves. Found in the show notes to episode is a link to the Earth Day website where you can sign up, make a pledge and participate in the Earth Day activities taking place in and around your community.

As an individual, you can learn about and act to end plastic pollution, one of the most important environmental problems facing us today. Plastics are not only destroying the beauty and aesthetics of our planet, but they are killing the wildlife as well. This is due mainly to the fact that they are un-biodegradable by nature, creating challenges for properly discarding them.

But disposing of plastic isn't the only issue. The production of plastic, which is a petroleum product, releases harmful gas emissions into the environment including carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, ozone, benzene and methane. Sounds like the makings for a terrifying SyFy thriller on a world gone bad! I'm telling you, the problem is huge!

"But plastic makes our lives so convenient!" someone might say. I'm glad you brought this up. You are here today because you are a mindful, nature-loving person, who cares about little things like the natural world around us. Rather than take the time in this show to explain what you can do as a concerned citizen of planet Earth, we're just going to send you to the show notes for today's show (found below), have you click on the link provided there for Earth Day 2018. Or you can just go to www.earthday.org.

Also, you can share this podcast with everyone you know…

Yes, we've got work to do, but we also have something to celebrate today! We are more aware than we were in the past, and awareness mixed with mindfulness leads to a better world for all of us.

Be the change you want to see happen!

Until next time, Happy Earth Day to you!

For more information visit Earth Day 2018

"We can never have enough of Nature." ~ Henry David Thoreau

Welcome to Day 21!

If you've been following along, congratulations, you did it!

For the past 3 weeks we have been on a journey of discovery; one of mindfulness, inner peace, personal growth, and health and well-being through time spent in and with Nature.

This is only the beginning. The purpose of this 21-Day Challenge has been to encourage you to create a new habit of getting outside everyday, viewing the natural world through new eyes. You've learned to daily cultivate "Beginner's Mind" for the purpose of renewing your outlook and restoring your soul.

Hopefully it has helped open your eyes to some things you may not have noticed before and given you fresh perspective on life and the natural world around you -a world full of life and hope, inspiration and encouragement, beauty, and limitless possibilities!

If you weren't already, perhaps without realizing it, you are becoming a mindful "Citizen Naturalist". I kind of like that term. It means that you love nature, care about the planet, and are actively looking for opportunities to take personal action to protect and participate in nature.

You tend to do things like join organizations like the World Wildlife Federation, the Sierra Club or the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Whenever possible you walk or bike rather than taking the car. You recycle, have bird-feeders in your yard and may even participate in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count. Basically, you're a passionate fanatic about Nature! Great! Me too!

So other than that, what does a day in the life of a Mindful "Citizen Naturalist" look like?

If you've been following the challenge on a daily basis, you pretty much already know! Here is a general outline of what that life may look like. (Yours may differ a bit, but the principles remain the same).

• Wake up with intention.
• Shower and get dressed and ready for the day with gratitude and mindfulness.
• Spend 5 to 20 minutes meditating. (Morning and evening)
• Prepare your coffee, tea, breakfast and lunch with Beginner's Mind, fully-present and enjoying each moment.
• Enjoy at least twenty minutes outside walking, running and living in the moment, noticing, observing, appreciating and sharing the experience with others.
• Work, study and play with gratitude and mindfulness. Take mini-breaks during your work time to get up and move around, do a 5-minute meditation, think of something you are grateful for, and regularly ask yourself, "Am I present in this moment?"
• Spend time with family and friends truly listening and being fully present and in the moment. (This means all screens, including the TV, should go "Bye-bye" for at least a significant portion of this golden time together.)
• Read, listen to or watch something inspiring to educate yourself and grow your soul.
• Before falling asleep, reflect on the day, asking, "What went well?" "What blessings and even challenges am I most grateful for?" "What can I improve on tomorrow?", and finally, always be making plans for your next big Nature Adventure/Outing - Hiking, camping, exploring, fishing, hunting, birding, cycling, swimming, trail-running, etc…?"
• Thank God for the gift and opportunity to live such an amazing life!
• Sleep at least 7 to 8 hours knowing that tomorrow brings another day filled with wonderful opportunities to connect with Nature and enjoy the life you've been blessed with…

What a world we get to live this life in! Planet Earth = Planet Wow! ~ providing everything you need to live a happy, healthy, successful, joy-filled life…

One more thing. You are committed to spending more time outside, and this is fantastic, but there is also a place for bringing the outside inside. For the full Nature effect, it's good to surround yourself with signs and symbols and reminders of Nature, and things that lift your spirit in your home and work settings as much as possible. Creating your own Nature Zen Den ~ a place where you can go for meditation, stillness, thoughtful reflection, inner healing and exercise or yoga.

If possible, find a place in your home and/or workspace where you can get a little privacy and create a sanctuary of beauty and tranquil simplicity. It should be a place where you can't wait to go to read and relax, meditate, and just breathe and be…

Set it up so that it brings you a sense of peace, filled with natural things like plants, flowers, stones, pine cones, nature-scented candles, and even a water fountain. It should have plenty of natural light and, again if possible, the ability to open the windows or doors as much to let in fresh air and even birdsong if you are fortunate enough to host wildlife in your yard or neighborhood. You may also want to include a Bluetooth device or stereo system so you can play nature sounds or your favorite meditation music.

One of my all-time favorite living things to include in my nature zen den is bonsai trees! These living works of art provide so much joy and pleasure and help you stay present because they are generally sensitive and respond to TLC and daily light watering, trimming etc.

You can check out our website for resources and more ideas on setting up your own Nature meditation space at Mountain Zen Den's Shop page.

Between getting outside on a daily basis, and having this indoor retreat center in your home and place of work where you can go for meditation and relaxation, your life will be set up for amazing success in dealing with stress and challenges, and just being overall healthier physically, mentally and emotionally.

That's it! Get outside again today for the sheer joy of it!

But don't stop there!I encourage you to keep on keeping on because there's a whole Universe out there awaiting you with open arms, filled with wonders and beauty and blessings galore!

Meet you on the trail!

Checklist for Day 21

☐ MEDITATION: Day 21 – "A Day in the Life of a Mindful 'Citizen Naturalist'" (Listen on iTunes or here at Mountain Zen Den.)

☐ NATURE WALK: Enjoy 20 minutes in Nature today as a mindful Citizen Naturalist.

☐ JOURNAL: What did you discover as a result of taking the 21-Day Nature Challenge? How will you continue the habit of spending mindful time in Nature for inner peace and personal growth?

☐ Email us at Mountain Zen Den and share your experience for a chance to win a free Mountain Zen Den T-shirt! What did you like best about the program? What could we do differently to improve it for future 21-Day Nature Challenges?

Thanks again!

Brett & Melissa

"Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into." ~ Wayne Dyer

"Today's show is brought to you by Nature - kid-tested, mother approved!"

Welcome to Day 20!

How would you like to have a limitless supply of energy and abundance?

Guess what? Nature is its own natural resource with a limitless supply of energy and abundance! Who knew?!

Think about it. Solar power, wind and water, coal, wood, petroleum, all provide incredible sustainable, and renewable sources of energy. Shoot, you can make a battery out of a potato!

And when you look at the planet, in spite of the way we treat it, yields an abundance of fruits and vegetables, grains and nuts and dairy and meat sources. Natural resources abound on this planet!

The way the Universe, and our world in particular, has been designed, it has everything it needs to stay in perpetual motion, providing all food and water, fresh flowing air with oxygen regeneration…if we would just learn to work with it and not against it.

It's been said that if we covered 9% of the world's ocean surface with macro-algae (seaweed forests), we could produce huge amounts of biomethane (also known as "green gas") that would be enough to replace all of today's needs in fossil fuel energy, while removing 53 billion tons of CO2 per year from the atmosphere, restoring it to its pre-industrial levels, while increasing sustainable fish production.

Also, if we could capture just 0.1% of the ocean's kinetic energy caused by tides, we could satisfy the current global energy demands 5 times over!

By working with, and tapping into Nature we can solve all the problems we created and then some.

On a more personal level, Tony Robbins has said, "Where focus goes energy flows." And to that I say, "Amen!", especially when our focus is on Nature.

You have to admit, when you sit around all day on the couch just watching TV or reading Marvel comics magazines, you begin to feel drained, listless and exhausted; especially if you're dealing with stress, extraordinary difficulties in life, and feelings of depression - Your boyfriend dumped you, your dog has the measles, and you had to turn away the pizza delivery guy because you didn't have enough of a balance on your 4th credit card…

It's hard to motivate yourself to get up and do something, anything to change your situation and your dismal outlook under these circumstances.

But in those times when you do find it hard to pump yourself up and stop lazing around, that's exactly what you need to do! Get your butt up off of the couch and get outdoors! The fresh air, exercise and reminders of beauty and abundance will give you the Vitamin N you need to recover from your self-imposed nature deficiency.

I could say more but I think you get the idea. Instead of sitting here wasting your time by making you listen to me talk about getting outside, go get outside!

I'm right here behind you…someone's gotta shut the door! :)

Checklist for Day 20

☐ MEDITATION: Day 20 – "Energy & Abundance"

☐ NATURE WALK: Lift your head, put your shoulders back and get outside for at least 20 minutes, raising your levels of awareness of all the energy and abundance available to you on the planet!

☐ JOURNAL: What energizes you? What reminders of Nature's abundance did you witness today? What are you most grateful for?

"If your mind is still… you can sense the peace that emanates from the earth." ~ Eckhart Tolle​

Welcome to Day 19 ~ Tranquility

Here at Mountain Zen Den we are on a quest for love and simplicity, joy and tranquility, and energy and abundance through Nature.

Each of these gifts can be found separately and together, as we seek to stay mindful, dwelling in the present moment. You don't always have to be out in nature to be present. But Nature is an amazing catalyst for presence. Presence is the place that is always with us.

And it is what we are on a quest for today, and everyday that we choose to bring our "A Game", and be the best we that we can be!

You know you can find a state of peace and tranquility whenever you want it. Inner tranquility has little to do with your outer surroundings. Inner tranquility is about your personal state of being. However, you need to practice and create this state of being on a regular basis so that you can access it any time you feel anxious or overwhelmed no matter where you are.

I love creating memories in beautiful places that I can return to whenever I feel the need for peace and solitude.

Yesterday, about an hour before sunset, Melissa and I took a wonder-filled hike along a scenic rocky ridge that cradled a blissful mountain lake. The temperature was perfect for trekking, and the light and luminous clouds reflecting in the water created a heavenly, surreal setting. There was not another living soul to be found, and our hearts were light and full of joy. We could feel the burdens of the day slide down the hillside into the welcoming water below.

As the sun slowly sank into the mountains on the other side of the lake, the wind picked up a notch, whispering through the scraggly ponderosa on the crest of the ridge. We both fell into a dreamlike state and the tranquility in this place was palpable. We took a seat on a comfortable rock and just absorbed the stillness of the last dying rays of the day.

This is what we call a "Matterday", and is a moment we will always be able to remember and access in times of stress; a tool to be used for finding and practicing presence.

James Allen said, "The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom."

Take a couple of deep, restorative breaths and enjoy the next few minutes in a state of serenity and tranquility deep within your spirit today.

Hold on to this feeling as you go about your business today, seeking mindfulness and tranquility of spirit.

Checklist for Day 19

☐ MEDITATION:Day 19 – "Tranquility"

☐ NATURE WALK: In your 20 plus minutes spent outside today, set an intention that you will find and create moments of tranquility that you can store in your heart to access under times of stress and anxiousness.Find a place in Nature that gives you a sense of peace and calm, and just stay there a while enjoying the serenity of the moment.

☐ JOURNAL: What places and memories bring back the deepest sense of tranquility to your heart?What are you most grateful for today?

If you've been hanging with us on the 21-Day Nature Challenge, thank you! We have just 2 more days to go!

Enjoy your tranquility and we'll see you back here tomorrow...

"The present moment is filled with joy and happiness. If you are attentive you will see it." ~ Thich Naht Hanh

Welcome to Day 18!

How are you doing today? Is your life going the way you want it to? Are you finding joy in the moment? Or are you wishing you could be a little happier and a little more joyful?

Joy is found in the simplest of things, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a rushing river or a sweetly babbling brook, dew on the grass in a meadow where a deer and her newborn fawn are grazing, or the dazzling white snow on a majestic mountaintop. Joy comes in all shapes and sizes, colors and flavors, but the most important thing about joy is that it can be found at anytime, anywhere, and by anyone; even animals wild and domestic.

Here in the Rocky Mountains I've witnessed elk calves, and even grown bull elk playing and skipping and jumping, and rolling and splashing and pawing in puddles and glacier melt just for the joy of it. Our horses rear up and start chasing each other in a mad dash of joy, for seemingly no other reason than for sheer joy.

You can analyze it and talk about it, but until you've experienced it, joy is actually difficult to grasp in tangible terms. More than a mere feeling, it involves a sense of well-being and that all is right with the world. Working closely in conjunction with faith, joy believes that ultimately in the end, everything will turn out the way it should. And yet, joy doesn't really involve deep thoughts at all…it just is.

As Thich Naht Hanh points out, joy is found in the present moment. Spending that present moment in our natural environment, out in nature is the surest way to go directly to the source and find joy almost instantly.It is a direct hit to the soul.

I believe this is one reason we love to go camping or vacationing in the mountains or at the ocean or seaside. In these places joy is always so readily available, not just because of the place we are in, but due to the fact that when we are there, we can look past the circumstances of our lives and live in the moment. Here, joy just naturally bubbles to the top, reassuring us that it has always been there deep inside. It's just a part of who we are and how we were made.

Look back at your childhood and try to remember some of your greatest moments of joy.

One of my fondest memories is helping my grandmother pick grapes and blackberries, raspberries and string beans from her simple, home-grown garden in West Virginia. I remember helping her snap the string beans in half and get them ready for cooking. Something about the sensory experience, smelling the fresh-hoed dirt and fresh earthy vegetables; getting the juice from the berries all over my hands and mouth; hearing the crisp snap of the green beans as we broke them in half and placed them in a pile to be cooked. Even just the simple memory of it brings a smile to my face and places me back in the moment of joy as if it were just yesterday.

Another simple, free and readily available direct route to joy is by learning to play and explore in nature. When we are playing, we are in the moment, not worried about the past or the future.

Playing king of the hill, climbing construction dirt mounds, throwing dirt clods and watching them "poof" in a puff of smoke as they hit their target, climbing saplings as high as we could and bending them over and riding them back down to the ground far below, jumping on the trampoline, collecting spiders and fireflies in jars, scavenger hunts, hide and seek, freeze tag, red rover, steal the bacon, sardines, eye spy, and capture the flag were among my favorite games to play outside as a kid.

Swimming in the Great Cacapon River in West Virginia, camping, hiking, caving, canoeing and kayaking… all of these filled me with a sense of joy and wonder and exhilaration!

Is this bringing back any memories for you? Can you feel the joy of those memories well up from deep inside?

Not only is joy accessible in the doing, but in the recalling of memories.

I don't know about you, but I'm thinking it's time to get outside and make some new memories out in the wild, wonderful world of Nature.

So hit the trail today and just have fun!

Checklist for Day 18

☐ MEDITATION:Day 18 – "Joy" (Playing in Nature) (You can listen to this meditation on iTunes or here at Mountain Zen Den.)

☐ NATURE WALK: 20 minutes walking, running, skipping, jumping, playing. Search for joy in the present moment. Find joy in everything.

☐ JOURNAL: Spend a few minutes writing about your favorite joy memories as a kid. What brings you the most joy these days? What joyful moments are you most grateful for today?

Post your pictures, experiences, observations and questions, and share them on our 21-Day Nature Challenge Facebook Community Group page.

See you back here tomorrow!