(DISCLAIMER: What follows is MY opinion, based on personal reflection. Not backed by any scientific study or analysis).
I read from a friend's IG post:
"One of the many things to love about hiking is that it's easy to be in a musing mood when in the wild. We talk less, walk more (and in the process, meditate more)." Jayvee Tanawan on IG
It dawned on me that THAT is probably why I enjoy it so much. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I feel a need to go on a hike. I don't always get the answers, but I get clarity.
You can go one-on-one with a friend or in a group with familiar and/or unfamiliar people and socialize a bit. But there will always be that inevitable lull when each one: first, gets lost in the beauty of nature; then, gets lost in their thoughts. Thus, hiking is a trigger for overthinking.
BUT it's also a solution. The menial task of walking/hiking combined with the beautiful open view helps an overthinker to declutter his/her thoughts and work through them slowly.
The rhythm of a slow (or even a brisk) hike reduces the rushed or panicky feeling an onslaught of thoughts can bring. Moreso, the pace is completely at his/her control. (Notice how a person's walking speed shows how relaxed or tensed or angry a he/she is).
The scenery and its mix of simple and complex elements serve as enough distractions to the overthinker, preventing him/her from spiraling or overthinking just one subject.
Plus, every company demands for some attention every now and then. Sometimes a conversation with a hike buddy serves as a natural break from an overthinker's labyrinth brain. Sometimes, a hike buddy is just the right person to help thresh out those infinite thoughts.
More importantly, nature has a way of evoking positive uplifting emotions; the most "negative" I felt was probably melancholy, but even that gave way to either hope or resolve eventually. When you are faced with such unassuming grandeur, it is difficult not to feel God, the depth of His love and the truth in His promise. There is nothing that cannot be fixed, resolved or found. Everything is possible.
Of course, for it to work as "therapy", it has to be the right level of difficulty and the right distance. A hike that is too difficult or takes too long can be trying to the most patient person (and, if you run out of trail food, that can quickly escalate --- eep!).
So, if you or anyone you know is an overthinker and is thinking of giving nature hiking a chance, Start with the easy, established trails first (national parks are good bets). Then, work your way up, as needed, to keep your senses and your soul engaged. It will not give you all the answers you need, but it can set you on the right track or, at the very least, help empty your mind. When we are empty, we give Him the opportunity to fill us up.
I read from a friend's IG post:
"One of the many things to love about hiking is that it's easy to be in a musing mood when in the wild. We talk less, walk more (and in the process, meditate more)." Jayvee Tanawan on IG
It dawned on me that THAT is probably why I enjoy it so much. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, I feel a need to go on a hike. I don't always get the answers, but I get clarity.
 |
| Photo by: Ryan Berza |
BUT it's also a solution. The menial task of walking/hiking combined with the beautiful open view helps an overthinker to declutter his/her thoughts and work through them slowly.
The rhythm of a slow (or even a brisk) hike reduces the rushed or panicky feeling an onslaught of thoughts can bring. Moreso, the pace is completely at his/her control. (Notice how a person's walking speed shows how relaxed or tensed or angry a he/she is).
The scenery and its mix of simple and complex elements serve as enough distractions to the overthinker, preventing him/her from spiraling or overthinking just one subject.
Plus, every company demands for some attention every now and then. Sometimes a conversation with a hike buddy serves as a natural break from an overthinker's labyrinth brain. Sometimes, a hike buddy is just the right person to help thresh out those infinite thoughts.
More importantly, nature has a way of evoking positive uplifting emotions; the most "negative" I felt was probably melancholy, but even that gave way to either hope or resolve eventually. When you are faced with such unassuming grandeur, it is difficult not to feel God, the depth of His love and the truth in His promise. There is nothing that cannot be fixed, resolved or found. Everything is possible.
 |
| Photo by: Ryan Berza |
 |
| Photo by: Ryan Berza |
Of course, for it to work as "therapy", it has to be the right level of difficulty and the right distance. A hike that is too difficult or takes too long can be trying to the most patient person (and, if you run out of trail food, that can quickly escalate --- eep!).
So, if you or anyone you know is an overthinker and is thinking of giving nature hiking a chance, Start with the easy, established trails first (national parks are good bets). Then, work your way up, as needed, to keep your senses and your soul engaged. It will not give you all the answers you need, but it can set you on the right track or, at the very least, help empty your mind. When we are empty, we give Him the opportunity to fill us up.
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