The mind is where we live. It’s where our identity, perceptions, and beliefs reside. It shapes the way that we think about ourselves, the world around us and our place in it. What lives in our mind is our reality, regardless of what is actually happening in the external world. That’s why it is so important to maintain a healthy environment in our minds. If our mind is sick then problems will manifest in our lives. The same way that a sick body will develop chronic health problems.
Just like our body, the mind can be conditioned to be healthier and more resilient to disease. Physical exercise plays a role in conditioning the mind but there are mental exercises that must be practiced too. These mental exercises can be practiced anytime and anywhere, but it just so happens that the wilderness provides the perfect environment to condition the mind.
Part of what the mind does is try to predict the future. We generate models of reality based on our belief system and project how things are going to go into the future. If our models of reality are correct then things go according to plan most of the time. If our models of reality are based on false assumptions, bloated egos, wishful thinking, or any other number of false realities, then problems will arise frequently.
Our mind is very good at playing tricks on us in order to make us feel better in the short term, but this comes at the cost of long-term consequences. Usually these tricks are in place to preserve our sense of identity, make us feel safe, or confirm decisions we have made. These tricks are unique to the individual and they are nearly infinite so we can’t talk about them in detail here. The point is that every mind is unique and no one can know your mind better than you. It’s up to the individual to put in the time to explore their own mind and look for these tricks.
The wilderness is a purely objective environment. It does not care about us, it simply exists according to the laws of nature. The laws of nature define reality and they are inescapable. Spending time in nature is like checking in with reality, it will reveal all those false realities that we have created for ourselves. It reveals our strengths, our weaknesses and where we have been lying to ourselves. At the same time it gives us a glimpse at who we could be if we shed all the things that are holding us back. Nature is reality in its purest form. This objective reality has become harder and harder to find in modern society because nearly everything we come in contact with has some sort of agenda to persuade us to do something or to alter the way we see the world. It can be very challenging to figure out what is “real” in today’s world.
In nature everything is real.
Part of what the mind does is try to predict the future. We generate models of reality based on our belief system and project how things are going to go into the future. If our models of reality are correct then things go according to plan most of the time. If our models of reality are based on false assumptions, bloated egos, wishful thinking, or any other number of false realities, then problems will arise frequently.
Our mind is very good at playing tricks on us in order to make us feel better in the short term, but this comes at the cost of long-term consequences. Usually these tricks are in place to preserve our sense of identity, make us feel safe, or confirm decisions we have made. These tricks are unique to the individual and they are nearly infinite so we can’t talk about them in detail here. The point is that every mind is unique and no one can know your mind better than you. It’s up to the individual to put in the time to explore their own mind and look for these tricks.
The wilderness is a purely objective environment. It does not care about us, it simply exists according to the laws of nature. The laws of nature define reality and they are inescapable. Spending time in nature is like checking in with reality, it will reveal all those false realities that we have created for ourselves. It reveals our strengths, our weaknesses and where we have been lying to ourselves. At the same time it gives us a glimpse at who we could be if we shed all the things that are holding us back. Nature is reality in its purest form. This objective reality has become harder and harder to find in modern society because nearly everything we come in contact with has some sort of agenda to persuade us to do something or to alter the way we see the world. It can be very challenging to figure out what is “real” in today’s world.
In nature everything is real.
The mission
The mission of the mind pillar is to explore how nature can improve our mental health. Mental health covers a vast territory but some areas we will be looking at include healing mental and emotional trauma, improving issues with self-confidence and identity, addressing toxic mental patterns, and even finding a purpose in life.
