Be Nature

Nature is, well, nature is hard to define. But we all know it when we see it. In a sunrise. In a flower growing through the crack in a sidewalk. In a bird swooping down to catch a fish.

With a little practice, you can see it in yourself.

I have rosemary, sage, and thyme plants in my kitchen. Each time I see them, they help me see nature in myself, and they deepen an important lesson about nature—and wellness—for me.

When I make sure they receive the right amounts of water and sunlight, they thrive.

When I don’t make sure they receive the right amounts of water and sunlight, they wilt. If my neglect persists, they die.

When their needs are met, they thrive. Guaranteed.

When their needs aren’t met, they get sick and die. Guaranteed.

Nature isn’t good or evil. Nature doesn’t love or hate. Nature doesn’t discriminate in any way.

Nature is.

When my herb plants get what they need, they thrive. No exceptions.

When my herb plants don’t get what they need, they get sick and die. No exceptions.

It’s the same for you and me:

Nature spares no one; nature leaves no one behind.

Nature spares no one:

1. If I eat McDonald’s hamburgers all the time, nature will catch up to me. I’ll get sick.
2. If I only get four hours of sleep for weeks on end, nature will catch up to me. I’ll get sick.
3. If I continually do work that’s neither enjoyable nor meaningful to me, nature will catch up to me. I’ll get sick.

It’s not that I might get sick. I will get sick. It’s not if but when.

Nature leaves no one behind:

1. If I walk, dance, lift weights, hike, and move my body in other ways I enjoy, nature will catch up to me. I’ll thrive.
2. If I get some great rest most evenings and most weekends and regularly take vacations, nature will catch up to me. I’ll thrive.
3. If I immerse myself in awesome friendships, nature will catch up to me. I’ll thrive.

It’s not that I might thrive. I will thrive. It’s not if but when.

Remember:

Nature spares no one; nature leaves no one behind.

If you’re not currently meeting most of your needs most of the time, there’s nothing fundamentally wrong with you. You simply haven’t learned to do so yet.

Nature is always there, but it won’t make you align with it. You always have the free will to align with nature as little or as much as you like.

Nature is neither judgmental nor dominative.

Nature is.

I encourage you to lean in. To lean in to nature. To lean into your nature. To lean into thriving.

No matter where you’re starting from, you can take a step—right now—into greater alignment with nature. With your nature. With thriving.

If not now, when?

About Jason Gootman
Jason Gootman is a Mayo Clinic Certified Wellness Coach and National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach as well as a certified nutritionist and certified exercise physiologist. Jason helps people reverse and prevent type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other ailments with evidence-based approaches to nutrition, exercise, stress reduction, holistic wellness, and most importantly, lasting behavior improvement and positive habit formation. As part of this work, Jason often helps people lose weight and keep it off, in part by helping them overcome the common challenges of yo-yo dieting and emotional eating. Jason helps people go from knowing what to do and having good intentions to consistently taking great care of themselves in ways that help them add years to their lives and life to their years.