Resilience in Nature Walk - Hey She x Inner Green Deal

Last month, I facilitated the Resilience in Nature walk - a global event initiated by the Inner Green Deal. 🌍 💚 

A group of strangers gathered in Eindhoven’s beautiful forest to experience what Nature can teach us about resilience. 

We began by connecting with the nature around us through mindfully breathing, followed by a silent, solitary walk to deeply connect, slow down, and truly observe our surroundings. 

But what do we even mean when we talk about resilience? 

Resilience is not about being tough, it is not about always pushing through - it is about skillfully responding to challenges that we are facing by balancing our emotional, physical, and mental state. ⚖️ 

One participant shared a beautiful analogy: “Just like the trees, we too experience seasons of change.” 🫶 The forest taught us a meaningful lesson. It doesn’t resist the changing seasons. It adapts, it rests, it knows when to let go and when to grow. Perhaps this is resilience in its purest form. 

The trees don’t face these changes alone. Their roots are connected underground, sharing nutrients, resources, and information. 🌳 

This hidden connectedness reflected our own experience that day. We arrived as strangers, individuals with our own stories and stresses. But as we paired up for mindful walking conversations, sharing our thoughts while listening to each other, we formed our own interconnected community. 👥 

What did we learn from nature about resilience? 

That sometimes the most resilient response isn’t to stand rigid and alone, but to adapt and reach out. Being connected with our surroundings and each other, being present in the moment, and approaching life with curiosity and optimism forms the foundation of true resilience.

Curious about experiencing this connection with nature for yourself? 

Stay tuned for upcoming nature walks where we can connect, learn, and grow together as we explore what nature can teach us. 🤗 💚