How to Improve Your Connection with Nature [for those feeling disconnected]

[@matttcameron_]

I think the biggest issue is that most people forget that we are part of nature. We're not separate from us but we act as though we are. We've lost the relationship with nature--we've moved so far away from seeing how we get our food, our water our shelter that we don't see the relationship we have with the natural world. I like your first step in that reconnection process though; I think we all need more of that.

[@Lone_Star86]

Yes so when we look at another human, you look at it from a nature point of view. The false ego identity we create is not our true selves. You really have to look past the names, fashion and whatever identity humans attach themselves to 😂 If all humans shaved their heads and walked around naked, they would feel lost because they would lose their identity, but that's the goal of enlightenment ☯️🙏

[@changein3d]

There is a film called "It must be heaven". It's basically just one man observing the city and it's beautiful. In the whole film, there are about six spoken words. After watching the movie, I felt a totally different connection to my surroundings. I recommend it!

[@ChaseMountains]

sounds like an awesome film, thanks for the share (never heard of it!)

[@bogtrotter5110]

Falling in love with the natural world will keep us from destroying it. Falling in love takes intimacy.

[@maxburgida1651]

Everyone is connected to nature because we are all nature. Some people just don’t realize it yet.

[@l.o.3904]

We ARE nature. Lovely video. Thank you.

[@da2079]

There's a book called 'On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes' that confronts the issue of inattention and the beauty of observation even just in a walk around a city neighborhood. It really reaches into the core of noticing details in your day to day life which a lot of people struggle with nowadays. When I was in therapy my therapist recommended it to me to help me wrap my mind around the concept of being present in the moment. I live in the boons now with an abundance of nature and small things to ground myself with, but every time I notice something small I think back to that book that helped me confront the blinders I'd let grow in my mind. It's not about the getting out in nature so much as being present enough in your own body and life to notice details and bits of nature in all scenarios and landscapes.

[@ChaseMountains]

That’s the essence of the video! That book sounds great!

[@jonathonshaw6688]

I think that connecting with our bodies first is a great message. The more we can really feel and actually inhabit our own bodies, the more we cultivate the awareness to appreciate the beauty around us too. I believe that the more physical we become, the more present we become generally. I think that whilst "connecting" with nature is awesome, it's really just a stepping-stone to what we really want to aim for: reverence for nature. Combined with the understanding that we too are a part of the natural world, despite how weird we might be, we're still related to all life, as you were saying. Once we have reverence for nature, we'll stop abusing our environment. Our ecosystems are incredibly resilient and can return to health if we give them the chance. Something that helps me enjoy life more including walks etc is saying to myself, "This is Earth-time. This is special." It's simple, but reminds me to frame my time here with its brevity in mind. Memento mori. Something that I think ties in well with what you were saying (and you may already be well aware of this), is "yoga" translates to "union" - referring to the union of body, mind and spirit (with spirit being the breath). I think that when we have this sense of union, we more easily feel / appreciate our integration into the greater whole of the universe / nature.

[@ChaseMountains]

Thats a brilliant insight there man, thank you! Glad you agree!

[@jonathonshaw6688]

@@ChaseMountains Thank you! You're most welcome!

[@ethanharte4175]

I love this. I feel trapped in an urban environment due to my job, family, and economics. But I always feel like I can find a connection just by looking out my window and seeing a bird nesting in my tree. Or a neighborhood cat hunting in the street. Even down to the ants that are slowly killing my tree. I think another good way to connect to nature is to learn about it. What type of plants and trees are growing in your yard? What type of birds do you see around you? What was that bug you saw on your wall the other day? How did these species get to where you live? Are they native to your environment? Understanding the history behind these species gives you a better appreciation towards them.

[@joenathan7211]

Thanks for sharing your ideas. They are brilians.

[@stephen200005945]

I completed the Appalachian Trail (messily) at 19, so it was very influential on my worldview. It's hard to imagine how our world could be changed to be more in tune with "nature" in a way that doesn't conflict with all our agricultural/industrial progress, but something within me INSISTS that long trails are the key. This is a quote from Benton MacKaye ---via the 1921 journal that published his Appalachian Trail proposition: "We civilized ones also, whether urban or rural, are potentially helpless as canaries in a cage. The ability to cope with nature directly-unshielded by the weakening wall of civilization-is one of the admitted needs of modern times. It is the goal of the “scouting” movement. *Not that we want to return to the plights of our Paleolithic ancestors. We want the strength of progress without its puniness. We want its conveniences without its fopperies."* When I turn 22 next month, it will be on the Continental Divide Trail. I hope that in 20 years or so I'll be participating in communal expansion around long trails. I agree that focus should be on internal change/agency, but that seems like a duct-tape solution. If we want a different world, we have to build that world through personal participation and exploration. There is no need to "burn down everything"---we have the technology and know-how to make things anew...eventually. It all begins with a different mindset, hence this rallying call to the trail. Consider: To travel on foot; to go out and further, for sake of metamorphosis. To illustrate a chrysalis a thousand miles long. To emerge wide eyed and sensitive-- absolutely aware of something holy spinning in the center of intuition.

[@ChaseMountains]

there are a few epic comments on this video and this is certainly one of them, thanks for your insight man!

[@ayela562]

Beautiful. What an inspirational comment for me to read this morning. Thank you.

[@stefan5958Q]

Thanks for this video. As a Gardener I would like to say this: we have lost the appreciation to nature and to ourselfs. what it does to us, what we are doing to ourselfs. We're seeing what we are doing to nature but not ourselfs.

[@HuntFishJits]

Surfing, hiking, camping, and hunting are my favorite methods of nature immersion.

[@HuntFishJits]

Oh yea, Wim Hof Breathing and ocean immersion is a game changer too! And don't forget, watching the Nathan and Gabe Show when you're not enjoying these ones.

[@nattydred2593]

Agree. Evolution has designed our bodies to run, swim, climb, hunt, fight, dance, survive and thrive in nature. Along with enormous brains in order to be able to operate these bodies. Every time I'm able to make a little bit of progress towards recovering these lost abilities, I feel closer to nature. This channel has been a great help.

[@japoc]

Evolution isn't a designer... Saying that it designs life on Earth implies that it's some kind of entity that has pre-meditated intentions, that there's a thought process behind it. It's not doing any of that. The environment is constantly adapting and shaping life forms that are interacting with each other within it, and the result of that is "evolution". Everything in the universe is always in a constant state of change, or adaptation. Most of it happens at too slow a speed for us to notice it happening in the present moment, but it's always there around us. Evolution really should be called adaptation.

[@nattydred2593]

@@japoc that's well said. I guess the question is whether "pre-meditation" is necessary for intelligent design. I would argue, perhaps from a Stoic point of view, that it is not.

[@japoc]

@@nattydred2593 I don't think it is, either. But, yes, that's interesting to think about!

[@Sandalwoodrk]

Just looking out the window can do so much, I'm glad you put it so simply I'm an avid hiker and am used to camping deep in the woods and in the past I've rly taken nature for granted before But now, when I've spent to long at my desk, or just in my room focused on something often times I'll just take a step outside Even just for 1-2 minutes. simply looking at the trees and grass makes a world of difference and makes me feel connected

[@myblackboxrocks]

Wish this video had got more views and engagement, seems so foundational to our ability to enjoy time in the outdoors for us to practice being mindful and connected.

[@a.s.6616]

We all should stop looking at world with opposition of nature and culture. We are deeply connected even if we can’t see it. We are united for good and for bad. Great video.

[@ChaseMountains]

Thanks friend! Glad you agree!

[@japoc]

When we say that we, as the human species, are disconnected with nature, I think it would be more accurate to talk about how we have removed ourselves almost entirely from the symbiotic relationship we once had with nature. The simple fact that we're out of the natural food chain might explain this feeling of "disconnection". The solution may not be to go live in a cabin in the woods and to abandon all of our inventions and technologies, but it may be that we really should be thinking about ditching the extremes and instead respecting the balance that's needed. To find a way to balance our need for having communities and our ability to become more efficient, while being part of that symbiotic relationship within our environment at the same time. We need to understand and accept that we're not above nature, but instead that we are a part of it. We shouldn't feel superiority over other species, we shouldn't isolate ourselves from them. The universe always balances itself out in some way, as balance is important, but our behaviours indicate that we so desperately want to fight against this. We want to believe that we can dictate on our own what balance should be. But that always has led to the collapse of our past civilisations. Every time in our history... We keep on repeating the same schemes that lead to our downfall. That disrespect and disregard towards the interconnectedness between all living beings that exist within nature is what we should talk about when we say that we feel "disconnected" with it. I don't think walking barefoot on grass is going to help us finding this connection again, as much as I'd like it to be that simple... We need to learn about our mistakes and completely change the way we live our lives, how we view nature in its whole, and we need to remodel how our societies work with our environment.

[@JaredandTasha]

Disc golf is such a good way to help this. Especially wooded courses

[@PulpViddyos]

This was really nice. Thank you.

[@HeatherMusicc]

excellent points and scenery

[@MoeffMaehUndMuh]

One thing that really helps me is notice the change of seasons, to notice which plants have gone to bloom or set seed. Gathering food or plants to craft is also a nice way to see how much we are being provided with. And if that is not as accessible, even noticing the thousands of beings involved with bringing drinking water to you is amazing as well. (Eg. Water plants drawing out excess nutrients, trees and shrubs and grasses that allow the water to sink into the groundwater instead of washing out to sea, or mussels filtering your water from algae. And that is only the terrestrial part of the water cycle!)

[@silverdesk72]

Awesome video. Love the perspective on mindfulness.

[@thavashilan7372]

Spot on chase..it's within..all human experience is within and in is the only way out..

[@Lone_Star86]

Although I think most humans are completely disconnected from nature, we forget 1 thing. We are nature in its most advanced form on planet Earth, well our brains anyway. I think thats the curse of humans or the biggest spiritual practice, finding our true self. Amazing video mate, need more people like you in my life🙏🌍

[@danielgraychristoffersen9551]

loved this!

[@bluemonkey227]

Brilliant video! I totally agree. Sometimes I’ll go for a hike up on the hills here and I’m so preoccupied with taking photos, navigation, thinking about how well that new bit of kit is doing etc. My mind is seeing the time as an opportunity to beat the landscape. I totally miss that feeling of connection.

[@zerbirae4224]

Listened to the long distance hiker episode where you briefly mentioned this, and it's nice to see you expand upon it because I think it was one of the most poignant moments of that podcast to me. Thanks for the reminder🙏💚

[@ChaseMountains]

Here's the podcast in question for anyone whos interested! thanks for watching/listening! open.spotify.com/episode/3Ehr0Fsv3R5As3McEsPkiq?si=S04LMuDCR3aHrOfOgA5oiQ

[@genevievemayet630]

I absolutely love your videos and they have provided me with some much knowledge and insight. I’m about to take on my biggest adventure yet, 7-weeks hiking and backpacking various places across the western US and I’m doing it solo. I am a teacher and this my way to reconnect and ground myself with nature! Please keep up the fantastic content!

[@ChaseMountains]

enjoy the journey!!

[@chriswaller7511]

Hi chase i loved that I find a night away in the woods in the hammock helps. It’s not reconnecting with nature but more of a natural reset to find balance in the rat run we call life.

[@delanebredvik]

Brilliant message. Thank you.

[@onnovkerkhof]

Great video. Thanx for sharing. I mostly don’t react on video’s. But I was thinking.. what is nature? How do we refine nature? Is nature something else than the city? Maybe we made a concept of nature as something “out there”. So maybe first we have to look at our view of the concept nature. I think what people bothers most nowadays is the fact that our way of living drifts more and more away from our natural way of living. It’s to fast, to busy, to loud and to many influences. “Nature” is calmer, silent, doesn’t have business and if it is busy, it’s a natural pace. So maybe we want to reconnect with our inner nature as well as the outer nature. Just some thoughts. Gr, from the Netherlands

[@WalkWithLuke]

I've just been watching your improve your mind video playlist. Really inspiring content and I can definitely relate to the post hike/adventure blues. Some really helpful tips to manage that!

[@deannilvalli6579]

Despite the good philosophical points he makes in the video, I think just about all humans these days are very very very far from nature, in the sense of being aware of the other creatures and plants around them, apart from a few days or weeks of a year when they are on a long hike or such. Even those living quite near naturally beautiful areas ( a small %), they tend to go to work, get home, go inside... What I do recommend from personal experience is to walk very slowly and observe the plants and things around you, like on a nature hike in which you try to find certain plants or animals. Sitting in a place for hours also works. Above all, going alone, without distraction from other humans who constantly talk or make other demands or noises really helps. I recently watched a whole herd of Ibex (Steinbock) fighting each other, eating, doing family things, for about 30 minutes, at first from about 80m, later as close as less than 10 meters. I think this was only possible because I was alone and made little noise approaching. Sleeping outside without a tent is also really useful, when possible.

[@msdiinsche]

Liked your perspective very much, thanks for sharing 🙏

[@glendawoodward8750]

I never could understand the term get back to nature or become one with nature. We are nature.

[@michellepage6178]

What a great explanation and perspective. I totally agree with this. Although I didnt realise I shared your view until you have verbalised it. Thank you!

[@eltonsebastian7586]

all of what you have said is true. But few people also undersand it!

[@jmo32479]

Excellent video. So well said. I hope the next time you're asked to speak to a gathering of any size, that you take it. You have much to offer any group, in an interesting and informative way.

[@mayamachine]

learn and do bird language, that's the way to get great nature connection and maintain it. tracking is the second best way. I do bird language almost every day and track over 200 times a year.

[@AnikóAmáliaVeres]

Amazing video! Thank you!

[@emilymanire2776]

Great answer and well said! ❤

[@theeternalslayer]

I was born with that connection lol my family are all adhd so our memory banks are small. We have to move and communicate with people.

[@bc5872]

Great lesson again! As always.. Keep up the great work, love your videos

[@dralbertpakin8895]

I need a break from job hunting, and money problems and no friends etc. I am going to go to a lake near by tomorrow for a few hours with lunch and a book and a sketch book. I am going to unplug ,. sinceit's cooler out ( I hate the heat ) I am going to start doing this at least once a week. I hope it helps.

[@Tsoeke]

Beautifully put Chase, thank you :) I first heard you mention this in the Distance Hiker podcast and it tickled my curiosity. I'm very grateful you took the time to explore and explain it further :)

[@ChaseMountains]

thank you!! for anyone who hasn't heard this podcast, here it is! open.spotify.com/episode/3Ehr0Fsv3R5As3McEsPkiq?si=S04LMuDCR3aHrOfOgA5oiQ

[@growinggurus]

Beautifully put!

[@hey_virginia]

Thanks for sharing these thoughts for free with the world 🌍 I personally think you could reply to that email with a link to this video and say "here you go how do I receive my speaking fee" 🤣

[@walkaboutarts]

that was beautiful, thanks chase!

[@enzotchong6005]

Amazing video, thanks a lot 💃🏻

[@edgarmaestre6622]

Man, this place is "Prat Cadí", i live very close from there!

[@dralbertpakin8895]

I am not a hiker but I still love being out in nature and haven't been doing so.

[@p4n4143]

That was beautiful

[@sarabussey848]

Very insightful!

[@timprice4644]

I completely agree. The more presence I've gained, the more connected I feel, not just with nature but my surroundings, people, events... I guess, for me at least, it's being and feeling part of an organic whole. Cheers for sharing your thoughts. BTW, where's the route you're doing at minute 1.09-1.13? Looks stunning.

[@ChaseMountains]

That’s the Haute Route Pyrenees!

[@timprice4644]

@@ChaseMountains Cheers. Funnily enough, I did the Passage D'Orteig a month ago and I've just looked back at this vid and I'm pretty sure that's it...

[@JAY-qf7kr]

❤️🙏🏼

[@progvinyl9021]

👍😊nice day from Norway.

[@SophiaWorks]

Ahhh! I wish wish wish I could move there. Det er så fint du er der. En dag skal jeg komme og besøke ❤️

[@zeez9053]

Your channel info says United Kingdom.Which country is in the background ?

[@ChaseMountains]

Spain!

[@CecilVandergriff]

I agree with you but I believe God made us

[@sinsaurraldeyluque3299]

Amigaso, la naturaleza no esta en las ciudades, esta en donde la mano del hombre no llega, lo otro es un remedo de ella

[@josephreber525]

Oh WoW 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

[@Juanlu.]

Serra del Cadí??.

[@ChaseMountains]

Yes! Also featured in my video about sleep, and a good number of exercise videos in my programs :)

[@skyblue-lb9kr]

i hope you respond to that email :)

[@ChaseMountains]

This is the response hahahha

[@stewartthomas2642]

AWARENESS❤🧡💛💚💙💜🤍

[@aaronmaloney8282]

Eat magic mushrooms or smoke DMT outside 🤩🌎

[@TitaniusAnglesmith]

Oh man I wish I could get out in nature right now. Been bedridden for days from TBE. At least I have the clouds

[@ChaseMountains]

Oh shit! I hope you feel better soon! I’m sure you’ll be back out there in no time 🏔🏔🏔

[@TitaniusAnglesmith]

@@ChaseMountains Thanks mate. I was going to go on a mountain hike on Wednesday too! Vaccines is not a thing to forget about