Walking: The Key to Exploring Life

Photo by Polina Skaia on Unsplash

Walking is an incredible tool for self-improvement. It’s become one of my favorite tools. I’ve gained more benefits from it than meditation, breathwork, and even journaling.

You may find walking to be immensely beneficial, just as I have. Or you may find it to be mediocre. Everyone is different.

Regardless, give walking a chance. Try it out for a few weeks before making a judgment call. It may change your life.

I know because walking has changed my life. It’s reconnected me to nature. And it’s helped me gain mental clarity.

Today, let’s talk about how walking can provide these 2 benefits for you, too.

Explore nature

Humans were built to live in the wild. Every single species on Earth was built to live this way. But as our ancestors learned to harness fire, create stone tools, build shelter, etc., they began to take control over the wild.

Humans domesticated the world. 

Now, don’t get me wrong here. What our ancestors have done has created cushy, comfortable lives for us… And I’m not complaining. It’s incredible how we get to live inside homes and have amenities such as clean drinking water, smartphones, etc. 

I wouldn’t give up these comfortable amenities to go live in the wild. And I won’t ask you to, either. It’s an unrealistic ask, especially if I’m unwilling to do it myself.

But, we need to reconnect with nature.

We’ve diverted from our innate nature. The most nature exposure people get nowadays is the distance they travel from their front door to the car in their driveway. Most people are inside 24/7.

This isn’t good.

Nature exposure has many mental health benefits, which will be discussed in the next section.

We need to explore nature for our mental health. 

So, go out and explore your local nature preserve. Walk on the hiking trails. Breathe in the crisp, clean air. Maybe even climb a tree or two. And have fun!

Let your curiosity take you off-trail (if legally allowed).  

Exploring keeps life fresh.

Explore your mind

Exploring nature is great for your mental health.

Walking relieves stress. The thoughts, concerns, etc. fall away when you get into the flow of walking. 

You’ll gain mental clarity. Unplugging from the distractions gives your brain a rest. It’s crucial to stop intaking an overwhelming amount of information every day. Your brain gets to start processing all of the information you’ve consumed during the day. This clears the mental fog you experience when you’re overstimulated. 

Letting your mind wander also helps you gain new ideas. Your mind won’t be distracted by social media, TV, or any other content you consume. Your mind will be able to do its job: Think.

Gaining new ideas can be game-changing for you. For example, walking has helped me decide to change career paths. My entire life trajectory changed. I went from preparing for med school applications to becoming a business owner simply because I gave my mind space to think.

Even if walking doesn’t provide you with huge revelations, it is still a great tool for clearing your mind “trash.”

Wrapping up

Walking in nature is an excellent addition to your weekly routine.

Observe how you feel after completing your walks. Notice how calm you feel. Appreciate the mental clarity you gained, being able to think clearly. 

Go out and explore today!

Do you have any walking experiences you’d like to share? Let me know in the comments below!