For over thirty years, I worked in the environmental education sector, bringing nature to our country's youth. Nothing brought me greater joy than witnessing children rolling in the grass or hugging trees out of pure excitement and awe! Many of these kids came from areas with little nature.
I understand the immense healing power of nature, and combining it with my coaching practice empowers my clients to transcend to another level in their personal growth journey. Spending time in nature has many benefits for individuals seeking to become better versions of themselves.
Keep reading to discover why you need nature-based coaching to boost your self-discovery journey.
7 Reasons Why You Need Nature-Based Coaching for Personal Growth and Development
1. Nature Provides a Safe and Nurturing Space
Taking a personal growth journey isn’t easy, and finding the right space for inner work is important for a successful outcome. Using nature as your space for transformation is one of the best ways to feel safe and nurtured while delving into your deepest self.
Sitting in a quiet spot amongst trees and plants, with birds singing, feeling sunlight on your skin, and the support of Mother Earth under your body makes you feel calmer. I’ve witnessed this happening to my clients when we sit outdoors during a coaching or wellness retreat activity.
When you feel safe, calm, and nurtured, it becomes easier to face aspects of yourself that need to shift so that growth and transformation may happen.
2. Nature Immersion Enhances Self-Awareness
Self-awareness plays a vital role when changing yourself for the better. Life coaching introduces individuals to core values, belief systems, and the basic human needs that drive their behaviour. Exploring these aspects enhances an individual’s self-awareness, improving their capacity for changing what’s not serving them.
Spending time in nature provides the silence necessary for self-reflection and introspection. These practices are essential for understanding your strengths and weaknesses. The more self-awareness you have, the better you can change your life to align with your authentic being.
When you develop self-awareness, you empower yourself to live a fuller and more meaningful life.
3. Nature Connection Reduces Stress and Anxiety
Change is stressful and overwhelming, especially if you take the journey alone. Transformation requires complete honesty and a willingness to work with the ugly and the beauty within yourself!
Working with a nature-based coach allows you to work with a highly skilled wellness practitioner who can support you. Research proves that nature reduces stress hormones, making the coaching process less anxiety-ridden for individuals struggling with mental well-being.
Connecting with nature, even when you’re doing personal growth work, keeps you in a positive state of being.
4. Spending Time In Nature Ignites Creativity and Inspiration
Many individuals report feeling lighter, more inspired, and creative when doing nature-based coaching. I empower my clients to use nature as a canvas for creating a new life that aligns with their dreams and values.
Walking or sitting in nature increases your frequency, boosting an energy flow within you. You no longer feel stagnant, frightened, or disillusioned. Your mind and heart start firing on all levels, igniting new ideas and inspiration.
Spending time in nature balances your energy centres (chakras). When this happens, you feel vibrant and connected with infinite possibilities.
5. Nature-Based Activities Improve Problem-Solving Skills
Activities such as reflective journalling are powerful for finding solutions. Nature-based coaching encourages individuals to journal to improve their problem-solving skills. I often ask my clients to spend 30 minutes doing reflective journalling at the farm dam or under magnificent trees.
Nature’s soothing energy removes the tension associated with a problem and replaces it with resilience, helping you to overcome challenges. Observing nature and its interconnectedness is an activity that gives a different perspective on problems. It opens your mind to see the bigger picture.
Nature immersion activities challenge you to find different solutions you wouldn’t normally think of. This empowers you to see what’s great about a problem and encourages you to solve it holistically.
6. Nature Increases a Sense of Belonging
One of our most basic human needs is feeling connected with the world around us. A sense of belonging is essential for total well-being, but most of us struggle with this. Nature helps us to build a deeper connection with the environment, giving us a sense of belonging in the universe.
Our level of worthiness determines how connected we feel with ourselves and others. When you discover nature-connectedness, you’ll feel an overwhelming sense of worthiness and love for everything! You realise that you do belong and that you are whole.
Connecting with nature is deep, meaningful, and rewarding. Your heart feels full, and you know you are worthy, increasing your sense of belonging.
7. Nature-Based Coaching Facilitates Deeper Insights and Meaningful Change
Nature-based coaches understand the power of Mother Earth and the natural environment. They use nature to facilitate deeper insights within their clients, enhancing personal growth and development.
Incorporating nature into coaching creates a powerful synergy for transformative experiences. My clients often report experiencing:
Clarity of the mind.
Elevated emotions that enhance creativity and hope.
Grounding and centeredness.
Calmness and peace.
“Lightbulb” moments!
Through deeper insights, clients understand what drives them and what needs to change to live a fuller and more meaningful life.
Final Thoughts
The combination of nature’s healing powers and the self-discovery journey is powerful. They work hand-in-hand, allowing you to grow and develop into the amazing person you are.
Spending time in nature benefits mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Combine it with nature-based coaching, and you have a magnificent gift of transformation in your hands!
Reach out and contact me for more information, or sign up for my Self-Discovery Unleashed! Nature-Based Coaching Retreat starting in May 2025. This seven-week transformational programme takes place in the beautiful natural surroundings of Random Harvest, Muldersdrift, Gauteng.
Comments