Blossom in Nature: 5 Outdoor Activities for Personal Growth this Summer!

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The seasons—cycles of the earth, moon and sun—are deeply rooted in our lives. In summer nature grows, flows and blossoms—fruits are sweet and delicious. Vegetable gardens are ripe for picking and much needed vacations are taken!

Nature abounds everywhere. And we also have many opportunities to be outdoors, to relax and enjoy leisure time, and to stop and notice all this beauty around us.

Summer is a time of growth and ripening—and we too can use this time to blossom and grow.

So I’ve created these nature-centred personal growth activities that help you build resilience, confidence and connect to who you are—in the sunshine!

Here are 5 Nature-Themed Summer Activity Ideas

1. Acknowledge Your Own Beauty & Blossom

It’s easy to notice beauty around us—and in others. And even though we know that true beauty comes from within, many of us still struggle to acknowledge our own charm and grace.

So here’s an exercise to help you recognize beauty in yourself:

Go outside. Then simply notice whenever a creature, plant/flower, rock or scene draws your attention.
Pause. Absorb the beauty—or whatever drew your eye.
Can you notice any feelings of awe, wonder and/or joy arising? If so, allow yourself to feel and enjoy it!
Then ask yourself:
- What, that I notice, is also true for me?
- How am I also beautiful?
- How I can blossom into the fullness of my being?
Pause and see what answers arise.

Repeat this process as often as you like—and remember that blossoming into your fullness is your birthright.

2. Get New Insights on a Personal Issue

It’s an irony that the start of the summer is our longest day, and then every day from June 21 onwards (in the Northern hemisphere) gets shorter, heralding the onset of fall/autumn.

With this paradox in mind, and with the confidence and boost we get from the warmth, sunshine, leisure time and beauty all around us, summer is a great time to face an old issue and gain new insights.

Ask yourself: What old issue do I feel confident (or want) to face—and gain some new insights?
Hold the issue in your mind, then go outside for a stroll or a walk. Ideally this would be a walk in nature, at a park or by the water.
Then notice when anything at all draws your attention. This could be a creature, plant, cool rock, weird shape on the sidewalk, building, poster on a telegraph pole or beautiful scenery!
Pause and take a moment to consider why you noticed it.
- What drew your attention? What specifically did you notice?
- What qualities does it have? What makes it stand out?
Now look for the meaning. Ask yourself:
- If this was trying to tell me something, what would it be?
- What new insights can I gain into this old issue?
- What message can I divine from this?
Keep walking and follow the same process with anything else that grabs your attention.
Finally, when you’re done and if it feels right, offer thanks for this experience.

Tip: Once you’re finished, remember that now you’ve asked the question, more insights may come over time as your subconscious mind continues to reflect on your experience.

3. Forest/Nature Bathe

When I first learned about Forest Bathing I realised this is something I’ve done all my life—sometimes driving my walking companions crazy: Wow, listen to that birdsong! Oooh look, there’s a caterpillar/butterfly/tadpole/mushroom/blue flower… Smell this! Feel how rough/furry/soft this is! And sometimes: Mmmm. Taste this!

Forest bathing is about being 100% present, about enjoying everything the forest/woods/meadow—nature—has to offer, using all five of our senses!

But it’s not going into overdrive (as I sometimes do) and noticing everything.

Instead return to yourself. Go slowly, be present, notice and fully experience what is there—with awe and wonder…

The hours when the mind is absorbed by beauty are the only hours when we really live. Robert Jefferies

See our full article on How to Forest Bathe – and Why!

4. Journal in Nature

Give yourself some solitude somewhere beautiful in nature. This could be in your garden or yard, at the beach or a lake, a park, or in the woods. The key is that you can sit down somewhere comfortably, relax and take in the scenery.

Take a folding chair or blanket with you, and of course your journal and a pen, and answer these questions:

What is becoming clear to me?
What is my focus for the next 3 months?
What threatens my peace? Where do I need to forgive myself or others?
How am I blossoming? What parts of me are vibrant and alive?
What do I need to celebrate? Where do I need to acknowledge my growth?

Click here for more inspiration with nature-inspired journaling prompts plus beautiful nature quotes.

5. Release the worry: remember you are part of nature

Note: this exercise doesn’t apply if you are homeless or in some other extreme kind of situation.

Sometimes when I feel overwhelmed or am worrying about something I’ll go for a walk in nature. Or I’ll find a tree to lean against and sit under.

Then I remember that I’m a part of nature, just like every other living thing I can see and hear around me, whether tree, bug, flower, fish or fowl.

I consciously acknowledge that all my present worries are created by my mind, modern society—and expectations. I will imagine for a moment that I am a caveman or early human, and notice that my focus and worries would have been around survival: food, shelter, warmth and physical safety. All of which I currently have in abundance.

This really helps: I see that my worries and concerns are society and self-created. And while they may be “real” in the literal sense, in the context of nature they seem absurd and unnecessary.

Here are the steps again for you:

Go for a walk in nature or find a tree to lean against and sit under.
Remember that you are a part of nature, just like every other living thing!
Imagine for a moment that you are a early ‘pre-civilisation’ human. Consider that your focus and worries would have been around bodily survival: food, shelter, warmth and physical safety. All of which you most likely have in abundance.
Then consciously acknowledge that all your present worries are created by your mind, modern society—and expectations.
- That’s not to say our worries aren’t real, just that much of what we worry about isn’t actually necessary for us to survive. They may be “real” in the literal sense, but in the context of nature many of our worries seem absurd and unnecessary.
Take a deep breath in and pause. And then, knowing that your worries are ‘man-made’, release your worries on your outbreath! Be sure to give your outbreath a good forceful puff: let your worries vanish into thin air!

Try this and let me know what you think!

Wrap-up

Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief that all’s right with the world. Ada Louise Huxtable

We came from nature—and we are still a part of nature—although much of the time we forget this. And nature is a powerful antidote to our human struggles and can be a powerful accelerator of our growth.

There are so many studies that show nature is good for us, for children, for healing and both mental and physical health. And summer is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy everything nature has to offer, and blossom alongside it.

Which summer personal development activity are you interested in trying?

If you liked this article with nature activities for personal growth, you may also like:

The popular article: 10 Beautiful Reasons Why You Need Solitude! (A Core Fierce Kindness Practice)
See 4 quick steps to create your own solitude
10 Beautiful Summer Journaling Prompts to Connect to Your Inner Wisdom!

Change the world. Start with you!

Image of Sunflower with bees by Alexas Fotos via Pixabay

Image of Hummingbird on flower perch via 123RF

Image of Woman walking into nature by Daniel Dvorsky via Unsplash

Image of Person journaling outside in nature by Farknot Architect via Shutterstock

Image of Person releasing worries at the beach via Kraken Images