Movement and Triggers

[teriseangelina]

I been practicing my triggering, by never forgetting to put on my jewelry. I am getting smarter than my brain by reminding myself.

[tgvance72]

Movement and triggers improved my focus tremendously. Being intentional about awareness and connectedness required all of the steps in the Getting Started With Nature Connection course. I am grateful for it.

[Cecelia]

I, along with 2 others, went into the forest to practice Movement and Triggers. We had an exploratory discussion on the term “triggers” and its connotation associated with painful or uncomfortable experiences. From there we began examining what it might be like to intentionally establish “positive triggers” as a way to remind ourselves to stop, step outside, and experience nature in some way, shape, or form. Each of us came up with something that would be our trigger. For me it was time of day, i.e. after lunch stroll along a tree-lined path; for another it was the sounds of birds chirping; for the third person, it was a dedicated ring tone on his phone alerting him that it was time to go out.

After our discussion, we then moved into the forest for our mindfully slow walk/forest bath into the woods. What an experience! None of us were accustomed to moving that slowly and quietly. At the end of our walk as we processed the experience the words that repeatedly came up were “peaceful” and “at peace”, “calming”, “recharged”, “generous”, and “compassionate”. This type of exercise was new to one of our group. When we stopped momentarily to silently observe and listen, I heard the participant whisper under her breath “Wow.”

This was an occasion when I stepped aside and nature became the therapist. Needless to say, this exercise was truly awe inspiring.

[Kirsten Witherell]

I have a tendency to have many projects or thoughts going on at the same time which can cause me to feel overwhelmed. I loved this exercise of deliberately slowing your speed down in order to stay connected with the present moment and whatever you are doing. I can see how you could integrate this into your day and how it could help you stay focused and actually cause me to be more grounded and more productive as a result.

[sara-dalton]

I have many things going on in my life and knowing that I try to do things one things at a time.

[Lari Jo W. Edwards]

This was an amazing experience. I can’t walk at 1/4 speed yet, but movement is a very different feeling than sitting in one space.

[brian-bishoff]

Yes I am trying to take a short time every time I go for a walk to S-L-O-W down and do a full sensory, mindful experience. I have a tendency to think about all kinds of things not related to where I am. BE HERE NOW

[Michelle]

I enjoyed this module and particularly the idea of setting an alarm or trigger to remind us to remain mindful and in FSA. I had a holistic counselor once who had me practice something similar. She gave me a long, thin rope to carry with me and each time I would succumb to anxiety or revert to old habits I was working through, she would have me tie a knot in the rope. This represented the disruption of progress and positive energy I was working on. It was difficult and also quite revealing in what triggered the knots and how often, during what circumstances. Ultimately, and with time, this practice helped me carry a full length of rope with no knots, illustrating positive flow. The use of alarms during the movement and triggers segment reminded me of the rope therapy.