A LESSON FROM NATURE

Nature supplies great wisdom, demonstrating it right under your nose if you don’t miss it when your mind’s on other matters. Don’t spend so much time in your head that you forget what’s happening in front of you. Stop worrying, and you may see how to solve even your greatest problems. To experience self-growth, slow down and watch nature’s insights unfold.

Perseverance

The spider diligently weaves a web so it is strong enough to weather most storms. If it breaks, however, she confidently rebuilds it. No worry about her first efforts failing. Nor does she give up because it might happen again.

People, however, often respond to setbacks by mulling over problems until they become insurmountable. Obstacles make success inaccessible and dreams will never be achieved. There are those, though, like the spider, who push a little further and spend just 10 minutes a day working toward a goal, seeing the challenges as part of the plan so they eventually realize their dream.

Social connectedness

How many terms describe groups of wildlife? Teams, packs, flocks, herds, and various other terms acknowledge the need to be together. There’s safety in numbers, but many people forget friendship is just as important as security.

People who are isolated become lonely and unwell. Their mental and physical condition declines because there is no support system. Depression sets in, and they struggle to cope with life. People active in their local communities, and develop social networks, are healthier and may live longer. The practical help they give and receive is useful. There is less stress because they don’t worry about managing alone.

Joy from little things

Watch a wild deer leap for joy because it has found a meadow, or a bird sing when the sun warms its feathers, and you know these creatures are designed to enjoy everyday wonders. Humans dance and sing, expressing joy as well, but they usually need an occasion to celebrate.

Everyday wonders, like rainbows, stars, the morning dew on the grass, and the sound of laughter are reasons to jump for joy. People witness these regularly, but don’t notice them fully.

Those who focus on positivity, though, open their eyes to small miracles, the kind others don’t see. Uplifting energy creates feelings of gratitude, love, and compassion. As a result, they are happy and optimistic.

There are many lessons nature can teach you. Trees, leaves, plants, insects, clouds—all aspects of the environment provide teachings. If you want to expand your awareness and understand more of life, engage in self-growth by observing nature’s free wisdom.

While technology is a wonderful way to stay connected, it can also be too distracting. It might be time to let it go, as the song says.

As technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, stepping away from electronic devices is becoming increasingly difficult. Taking a break from the digital world, however, is necessary from time to time if you want to live a healthy and fulfilling life. The overuse of technology may lead to reduced communication skills, loss of sleep, increased social anxiety, and even depression. Check out these five reasons to turn it off for a while.

1) Take back the power

Many people today are unknowingly addicted to checking their phones, email accounts, and social media profiles. Doing anything in excess can lead to unhealthy habits. By taking a break from technology, you empower yourself to get your checking habit under control. Once you realize you can live happily without devices, even for short periods of time, you’ll feel more confident doing so in the future. The more control you have over habits, the better you feel.

2) Have more time for things that matter

The average person today spends roughly eight hours a day using digital devices. With even a fraction of that time taken back, what could you accomplish? By taking a break from technology, you may have free time you don’t know what to do with. This extra space in your life could help you enhance your personal relationships, find a new hobby, have an exercise routine, or do anything else you’ve been wanting to do.

3) Experience life

These days, when you see something interesting or beautiful, it’s easy to instinctively reach for your mobile phone to catch it in a photo or video. This puts the focus on capturing a moment instead of simply experiencing it. Next time, avoid reaching for your device. Take a few deep breaths and truly experience what’s happening around you.

4) Discover what you truly like

People often find they’re able to streamline digital technology use after they step away from it for a while. When taking a break from devices, they can clearly evaluate which ones truly benefit them, as well as those that don’t. While doing this, you may find you don’t miss certain devices and types of digital media, which frees up more space for those you enjoy more.

5) Sleep better

Sleep can be adversely affected by technology use. Using your devices within an hour or two of sleep may disrupt your body’s ability to truly relax and get the rest your body and mind require. The feeling that you need to check your devices for messages, emails, or any type of update before sleep also may lead to poor rest, as it forces you to think about things that can wait until morning to be resolved.

Cutting digital devices out of your life for even a short period of time may help you experience great benefits. Experiment with a digital sabbatical today and see what it does for your happiness, productivity, and overall well-being.

She was born 4 months early and spent more than 5 months in the hospital.

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“Death, taxes, and childbirth! There’s never any convenient time for any of them.”

—Scarlett O’Hara from “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell