Nature's Gifts of Hope & Resilience

Big Picture Presents that Keep Us Going in Love

The symbols and metaphors of (our) nature have an uncanny ability to bring meaning and hope to life’s challenges, two ingredients that are essential for our resilience; if we don’t have a sense of purpose for our suffering, or a sense of hope that there will be come a time of less suffering, then there’s not much will to survive- and without the will to survive, we perish.

However, to find that hope and meaning within (our) nature, we are challenged to see ourselves as part of larger picture by:

• Finding meaning in development. This requires being able to accept and endure difficult seasons (or experiences) with the knowing that they serve a positive development overtime. Difficulty is not an indicator of failure; it’s part of our development.

• Finding meaning in the wellbeing of the whole-of-life (as opposed to focusing solely on our individual wellbeing). This requires us to accept and endure situations where our individual comforts may be challenged for the benefit of the whole.

I don’t know about you, but all that sounds pretty awful! Our brains (namely our amygdala¹) are largely designed to protect us as individuals from the hurt or threat of the moment. Though, humans have developed the executive functions that support our ability to hold the big-picture perspective (such as planning, emotional regulation, and self-control)², those functions are less available to us when we’re in a flight or flight mode³. So, though it’s meaningful to see ourselves as part of a larger whole, and as part of a positive process of development, is not always easy -especially when we’re stressed.

However, it’s not impossible. When we are able to hold on to just a thread of perspective (that growth includes growing pains, and that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves), the benefit is so tremendous that it’s absolutely worth cultivating the perspective with practice. That’s why I’m here to share the gifts of reflective arts. To learn more, read:

→ Reflective Arts for Calming the Nerves of a Changing & Challenging World

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In the meantime, here’s some songs and stories that hold on to nature’s hope, love and resilience:

Songs and stories that anchor faith in stages and seasons:

• Becoming Butterflies: Growing Faith in All Our Stages

• Treasure in the Dirt: the Vow of Loving Soil

• Microbe Miracles: the Mercy and Magic of Being Renewed

• The Confidence of Colors in Creation: Wildflower’s Belief in Beginnings

• The Grace of Rowdy Weather: Mercy & Compassion for the Storms of Sharing Life

• The CryBaby Valleys that Nourish Life: Celebrating Floodplain Fertility

Songs and stories that anchor value in being part of the whole:

• The Love that Comes from Being Loved: Domino Devotion of Bird Song

• Dear Navigator: the Team Effort of Finding Our Way, Together

• The Surprising Empowerment of Needing Each Other: the Sweetheart of Vulnerability

• Growing Belonging: We’re an Important Part of Life

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/amygdala-hijack#what-is-it

2. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/executive-function

3. https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/prefrontal-cortex