Sit in Nature 20 Minutes A Day... Unless You're Busy. Then Stay an Hour.

"You should sit in Meditation 20 minutes a day. Unless You're Busy and then you Should Sit for an Hour."

- Old Zen Proverb

In today's constantly changing and moving society, and culture that promotes on the go lifestyles, Hustler and he who has the most gold wins mentality which seems to be ever pervasive in America, stopping to take care of one's self seems to be put further and further on the backburner. Add in an unstable economy and sad and pathetic political environment, increasing crime rates and grocery bills and gas bills and the feeling of peace and calm and having time to breathe and relax may seem further and further away.

This is when it is most important to slow down and take the time for some self care. And I mean real self care. Mental Self Care. Now more than ever it is imperative that we take the time to decompress. to breathe deep and contemplate, meditate, let go and release what isn't ours and take time to put ourselves into a better state of mind. And if you're behind on bills, your goals, your life dreams and feel like you are just getting further and further behind with each day this is especially for you.

When we are focused on the negative and stressed out we are not able to think and perform as productively as when we are not. Maybe this is obvious... maybe this is new to you. When you are Happy, calm and relaxed you are able to think your best and perform your best. Maximizing your productivity and efficiency. And while you may be sitting there thinking to yourself that this couldn't be more obvious if only there were some magic way to control that.

And that is where this blog becomes useful, this is where taking time to sit with nature and decompress and let go of the negative thoughts and put yourself into a better place is not just some beach bum waste of time but a critical part of maintaining good mental health, a happy brain and the ability to tackle the challenges which lie ahead of us with clarity, grit and a good frame of mind.

So Stop and take time. Watch the Sunset, Smell the Roses, Put Your Bare Feet in the Sand or Feel The Cool Grass on Your Toes.

Read a poem and watch the clouds go by. Take time for your self and take time for your mental health. You will be better off for it and so will all that you do.

If you need some help I've got ton's of great meditations designed to help shut down the stressful and negative parts of your brain and help turn on the creative and positive thinking parts. There are plenty of other meditations for free online.. not that are designed with the brain power of Neurosculpting but that can be helpful, depending on who you are, in helping to relax and get into a better frame of mind.

If you are not anywhere near nature and have a terrible time meditating, Just take a moment to find some nature photos or video that you enjoy and a nice poem or creative reading to help your mind wander positively. Play some good music and hum along or dance around even if you feel so inclined.

Below is one of my favorite poems and some of my favorite images from a recent trip that I was too busy to go on. But I heard about pink sandy beaches and sometimes one needs to escape to magical places. Very well worth the time taken. And almost time to go take another trip.

Tauguries of Innocence BY WILLIAM BLAKE

To see a World in a Grain of Sand And a Heaven in a Wild Flower Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand And Eternity in an hour A Robin Red breast in a Cage Puts all Heaven in a Rage A Dove house filld with Doves & Pigeons

Shudders Hell thr' all its regions A dog starvd at his Masters Gate Predicts the ruin of the State A Horse misusd upon the Road Calls to Heaven for Human blood Each outcry of the hunted Hare A fibre from the Brain does tear A Skylark wounded in the wing A Cherubim does cease to sing The Game Cock clipd & armd for fight Does the Rising Sun affright Every Wolfs & Lions howl Raises from Hell a Human Soul The wild deer, wandring here & there Keeps the Human Soul from Care The Lamb misusd breeds Public Strife And yet forgives the Butchers knife The Bat that flits at close of Eve Has left the Brain that wont Believe The Owl that calls upon the Night Speaks the Unbelievers fright He who shall hurt the little Wren Shall never be belovd by Men He who the Ox to wrath has movd Shall never be by Woman lovd The wanton Boy that kills the Fly Shall feel the Spiders enmity He who torments the Chafers Sprite Weaves a Bower in endless Night The Catterpiller on the Leaf

Repeats to thee thy Mothers grief Kill not the Moth nor Butterfly For the Last Judgment draweth nigh He who shall train the Horse to War Shall never pass the Polar Bar The Beggars Dog & Widows Cat Feed them & thou wilt grow fat The Gnat that sings his Summers Song Poison gets from Slanders tongue The poison of the Snake & Newt Is the sweat of Envys Foot The poison of the Honey Bee Is the Artists Jealousy The Princes Robes & Beggars Rags Are Toadstools on the Misers Bags A Truth thats told with bad intent Beats all the Lies you can invent It is right it should be so Man was made for Joy & Woe And when this we rightly know Thro the World we safely go Joy & Woe are woven fine A Clothing for the soul divine Under every grief & pine Runs a joy with silken twine The Babe is more than swadling Bands Throughout all these Human Lands Tools were made & Born were hands Every Farmer Understands Every Tear from Every Eye Becomes a Babe in Eternity This is caught by Females bright And returnd to its own delight The Bleat the Bark Bellow & Roar Are Waves that Beat on Heavens Shore The Babe that weeps the Rod beneath Writes Revenge in realms of Death

The Beggars Rags fluttering in Air Does to Rags the Heavens tear The Soldier armd with Sword & Gun Palsied strikes the Summers Sun The poor Mans Farthing is worth more Than all the Gold on Africs Shore One Mite wrung from the Labrers hands Shall buy & sell the Misers Lands Or if protected from on high

Does that whole Nation sell & buy He who mocks the Infants Faith Shall be mockd in Age & Death He who shall teach the Child to Doubt The rotting Grave shall neer get out He who respects the Infants faith Triumphs over Hell & Death The Childs Toys & the Old Mans Reasons Are the Fruits of the Two seasons The Questioner who sits so sly Shall never know how to Reply

He who replies to words of Doubt Doth put the Light of Knowledge out The Strongest Poison ever known Came from Caesars Laurel Crown Nought can Deform the Human Race Like to the Armours iron brace When Gold & Gems adorn the Plow To peaceful Arts shall Envy Bow

A Riddle or the Crickets Cry Is to Doubt a fit Reply The Emmets Inch & Eagles Mile Make Lame Philosophy to smile He who Doubts from what he sees Will neer Believe do what you Please If the Sun & Moon should Doubt Theyd immediately Go out To be in a Passion you Good may Do But no Good if a Passion is in you The Whore & Gambler by the State

Licencd build that Nations Fate The Harlots cry from Street to Street Shall weave Old Englands winding Sheet The Winners Shout the Losers Curse Dance before dead Englands Hearse Every Night & every Morn Some to Misery are Born Every Morn and every Night Some are Born to sweet delight Some are Born to sweet delight Some are Born to Endless Night We are led to Believe a Lie When we see not Thro the Eye Which was Born in a Night to perish in a Night When the Soul Slept in Beams of Light God Appears & God is Light To those poor Souls who dwell in Night But does a Human Form Display To those who Dwell in Realms of day

Source: Poets of the English Language (Viking Press, 1950)