Why ‘natural coaching?’ Why invite nature into your life and your work with us?
A little while ago I spoke at an international conference. I found my notes the other day, and was struck by a single page that I think summed up my answers to these questions. Here it is.
There is good news and bad news.
The bad news is that us humans are disconnected from the natural world.
Despite an uptick in the pandemic – when local green spaces were suddenly so precious – levels of nature connectedness in England fell 25% between April 2020 and April 2021. 13% fewer people are taking time to engage with birdsong, or notice butterflies for example. 83% of British children don’t know what a bumblebee looks like. 30% of adults surveyed had not spent any time in a green space in the previous 2 weeks.
These impacts are grossly unequal.
Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people are twice as likely to live in green space deprived areas, and to suffer broader environmental injustices such as air pollution. It’s even worse for younger, poorer, and more urban citizens.
The climate is the other side of the coin.
37% of Americans are not worried about global warming, according to the Yale Climate Opinion maps, and they won’t be the only ones. The new IPCC report shows that climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying. 28% of species across the world are at risk of extinction. The risk of human exposure to zoonoses and lethal pandemics increases as ecosystems are disrupted.
The good news is that we have agency, and it is not too late.
30 behavioural changes will mitigate up to 36% of global emissions over the next 30 years.
People like you and me can make a difference. The choices we make as citizens are not a substitute for institutional and systemic change, but according to the Centre for Behaviour & the Environment, scaling up collective action is a key component of the climate change challenge.
That action includes action for nature.
We know that being outdoors is good for us, but there’s more to it. New research shows that we can ignite pro-environmental behaviour through a deep and personal connection with the natural world. We can forge or renew that connection with simple and accessible practices. These practices are essential to unlocking benefits that can’t be accessed through just enjoying the fresh air.
Little and often
If Aristotle was right, and we are what we repeatedly do, then we should be doing time with nature. But that sounds like a prison sentence, right? So how about we start by just going outside, little and often, and ‘be’ with nature. A balcony, a local park. Somewhere we feel safe. It doesn’t have to be an Instagrammable mountain top. Watch for beauty and meaning. Reflect on how we feel, and what we make of it all.
Natural coaching
Coaching in nature activates the parts of our nervous system that help us feel calmer, think creatively, and make more ethical decisions. Connecting to the natural world during a session boosts self esteem, life satisfaction and positive emotion. And time outdoors improves our health and wellbeing. Who wouldn’t want to receive these benefits?
And the coaching work itself benefits. These include the an abundance of natural metaphors to explore. An increased sensory palette. A precious lack of judgement, which enables us to take greater risks. Natural coaching can offer deep levels of awareness and learning – and ensure that the planet and its needs form part of the context for setting options and actions.
And perhaps, through this increased practice and connection with the natural world, we will be more likely to give back.
Contact us for coaching with nature.
References
Natural England – MENE http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/category/6637553967169536
Yale Climate Opinion map https://climatecommunication.yale.edu/visualizations-data/ycom-us/
IUCN https://www.iucnredlist.org
Centre for Behaviour & the Environment https://rare.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/2018-CCNBC-Report.pdf
IPCC https://www.ipcc.ch/2021/08/09/ar6-wg1-20210809-pr/
Featured image by Antonina Bukowska at Unsplash