Mindfulness
5 Important Things I Learned From Leading an Outdoor Mindfulness Group
It was one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life
In 2018, I started leading an outdoor mindfulness group. I had no idea what I was doing. It was an experiment, a leap out of my comfort zone, but I learned some valuable lessons.
#1: Being in silence with others is wonderful
In most social situations, there seems to be this unwritten rule that we have to fill any silences. If you’re with other people, the goal is usually to interact with them in some way. Silence is usually regarded as a failure to socialise.
But when the goal of the group is actually to be in silence together, this can be powerful. Instead of trying to think of things to say, you’re sharing a moment.
Imagine you’re out in nature, watching the light through the trees and listening to the sound of the breeze through the leaves. Experiencing this together in silence gives it a deeper meaning.
#2: It’s good to slow down
Often in life, we are rushing around trying to get things done and trying to get from A to B as quickly as possible. When we’re working on important tasks, we are trying to be efficient and productive.
But it’s also good to take time out to slow things down. We get more out of being in a place if we pause to experience it. Particularly when we’re out in pleasant scenery.
#3: Confidence comes with experience
When I first started my outdoor mindfulness group, I didn’t know what I was doing. I set the group up because I wanted a group like that to exist but I couldn’t find one was that was quite what I wanted.
I decided to turn it into an experiment. I would see what happened if I tried to lead outdoor mindfulness as a novice, learning as I went along. At first, it seemed like a daunting thing to be doing and was definitely out of my comfort zone.
But after about a year, I started to feel like, “Okay, I’ve got this. I know what I’m doing now.”
#4: Sometimes it’s okay to not plan everything
My natural tendency is to plan things, often in great detail. At first, this was how I approached my outdoor mindfulness sessions. I would have a timetable written on a piece of paper with everything planned out.
But once I’d been doing it a while, I realised I felt more familiar with the techniques. This made me more confident with leading the sessions.
So, I started to abandon the planning and lead them much more spontaneously. I would go with whatever felt right in the moment. This was probably due to having joined an improv group, which had helped me to learn how to be more spontaneous.
#5: Normal walking groups don’t suit me
I walked with walking groups for years but eventually stopped because I got tired of it. Once I started leading outdoor mindfulness sessions, I understood why.
I realised that I don’t like being in situations where people are talking non-stop. I don’t like having lots of people all around me talking at the same time. This probably has something to do with being on the autistic spectrum.
I like meeting people, but I don’t like being around constant chatter. I prefer quieter situations.
Why I stopped leading my outdoor mindfulness group
Okay, so the outdoor mindfulness group was great. I got a lot out of leading it. So why did I stop?
Well, to cut a long story short, my view of mindfulness had changed. I no longer wanted to lead it the way I had been leading it. I’d got more into the Headless Way, but decided I didn’t want to lead group sessions about that.
I might one day lead silent group walks with no mindfulness instruction. These would provide a quiet space for people to be with others. They can practice outdoor mindfulness if they want to, or just be with their thoughts. Whatever suits them.
For me, it would be nice to be in silence with other people again, but without having to give any instructions.