Book Review – Finding Mindfulness in Nature

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Hello and happy Wednesday! Today I have an amazing book to share with you. I did plan on popping this into my monthly book reviews but I had to give it it’s own post as I loved it so much! The amount of pages I have turned down with my favourite quotes and exercises on it means it is looking slightly dishevelled but still so useful!

Finding Mindfulness In Nature

by Dr Nina Smiley with David Harp

Mindfulness experts Dr Nina Smiley and David Harp have created a simple little book that provides meaningful ways to nurture ourselves through meditation and a connection with the outdoors whether it be in the city or in the countryside. Each mindful practice featured is inspired by quotes from dozens of notable authors, philosophers and poets such as Emily Dickinson, Lao Tzu, Aristotle, William Blake and Charles Dickens on the important themes of nature, spirituality, simple beauty and joyful living. This book is for anyone, novice or expert to help them explore the remarkable opportunities for personal growth available through a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with the natural world gained through easy accessible meditation practices. More than just a walk in the woods, Finding Mindfulness in Nature is a carefully crafted and deliberate approach to achieve better health and well-being and is ideal for all ages.

Mindfulness invites us to simply be present in the moment with what it is, accept it for what it is, and feel compassion for our impatience, annoyance and desire ro see it to be different.

Dr Nina Smiley with David Harp

I cannot being to tell you how much I enjoyed reading through this book on a sunny Sunday afternoon in my garden. I think it has come out at the perfect time during this strange time of lockdown. We are all being allowed time out of the house once a day to have some exercise and fresh air. Reading this book has given me so many ideas that will help exercise not just my body but my mind during this time.

As someone who started meditating around 6 months ago, I am not new to the practice but the book includes a couple of simple breathing techniques at the beginning of each of the two sections so is also perfect for people who haven’t tried it before.

Nature does not hurry

Yet everything is accomplished

Lao Tzu in Dr Nina Smiley with David Harp

This book has some really simple and great activities to use that can be done when out and about or even sat in your garden.. For so many of us, life in lockdown is a completely alien experience and something we have never been used to. We are cut off from family or friends, we are not going to work and cannot even go to the shops as we usually would. Mental health at this time in our lives needs to be considered as we all try and navigate our way through this ‘new normal’. This book is perfect for that and can be read front to beck or just dipped in and out of. Like I have done, I recommend popping in a bookmark or marking the pages you feel particularly drawn to or may want to try at a later date.

Let the clean air blow the cobwebs from your body. Air is medicine,

Lillian Russell

I really love how simple this book is to use, whether you have had any experience with mindfulness or meditation before or not. I often do my meditations in the evening or at bedtime so this was a lovely way to take my practice into the daytime. I would recommend to all, whether you are new to meditation or have been practising for a while. If you are interested in it, this is the perfect book to pick up as a gentle introduction.

Finding Mindfulness in Nature – Paperback on Amazon

Huge thanks go to Trigger for sending me a copy of this book, it is fantastic! Please let me know in the comments if meditation is something you do or are considering, I would love to hear your thoughts! Keep safe and take care,

Thank you to Trigger for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. The thoughts contained in this review are all my own.