Do you show humility to nature?

Why is showing humility to nature so important?

All month I’ve been posting about the joy habit of humility based on Chapter 35 of my book Being Joy™.

I’ve shared my thoughts and several quotes about showing humility and how judgment and ego can get in the way of your relationships with others and yourself. What about your relationship with Mother Earth?

When you take a walk in the forest, along the beach, or in any place that nature has blessed, you can’t help but be humbled by the healing power of its vibration. And as you feel more relaxed and balanced, you’ll reduce your anxiety and thoughts that put up resistance to your allowing what you were always meant to experience – that of love and joy. Nature does that.

Being humble with nature and our Creator is the basis for most indigenous spirituality. Showing respect for its power is how many civilizations endured for thousands of years. Just like the opening quote, it gave them their power. And if we want to endure as a global family, I believe we must accept the changes that are right in front of us and find a new way of being.

Yes, governments can institute mandates for reducing further damage to our environment. And industry can invest in new technologies that will replace outdated methods of manufacturing, farming, and natural resource depletion. And as citizens we can all do our part by ramping up efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle. But until we change our attitude about the environment and learn to live in harmony with it, change will be too slow. It’s about showing true humility to Mother Earth now!

I recently learned about the Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers, an ancient Anishinaabe/Midewiwin teaching on the ethics of proper behaviour and conduct or ‘the good way of life.’ When I reviewed the list of seven teachings, I was amazed at how many of them formed the basis of the themes I chose when writing my own book Being Joy™. I was particularly struck that one of the seven teachings is humility. Some things are just universal.

The following is an excerpt from a great resource I discovered online that explains each of the seven teachings in more detail.

“Of all the North American Indigenous teachings, the Seven Grandfather Teachings are the most commonly shared and there are many versions. For thousands of years, these teachings were passed down from generation to generation through stories and ceremonies. In his book, Ojibway Heritage, Anishinaabe writer, storyteller, teacher, and scholar Basil Johnston, explains that Anishinaabe stories are “flexible in nature and scope and are often best narrated so that the teller can use their skill and imagination to impart any level of meaning for the audience.”  We hope you will imagine listening to a gifted storyteller as you read these traditional teachings of the Anishinaabe people and let your curiosity delve you deeper into learning about their history, culture, and lives today. “But it is not enough to listen to or to read or to understand the truths contained in stories, according to the elders the truths must be lived out and become part of the being of a person”.

With the holidays upon us, I would ask that you spend some time in nature with the intention of adopting its grace and pace. Trust me, you’ll feel more centered as you do and hopefully will help to shift your perspective about being humble with nature if you aren’t already. And that my friend is joyful living.

Wishing you much love, joy, and peace during the holidays.

Your Joy Mama,

P.S. One of the reasons that some people have difficulty showing humility in the natural world is that they are afraid there is not enough. However, the reality is that when we are in balance with nature, nature is all providing. To learn more about the barrier of scarcity and how it can get in the way of your joy, ask for a free copy of my e-book The 8 Barriers to Joy and Abundance.

If you enjoyed this post, you may also enjoy these:

What does humility look like to you?
Is a dandelion a flower or a weed?
Do you admit when you are wrong?
Are you a tree hugger?
Whose life will you impact today?

Images from Pixabay.