Learn wisdom from your inner animal
Mark Lang

It dawned on me one day that much of the struggles I go through in life are a direct result of my acting counter to my nature. For instance, during those times when I tried to be what other people wanted me to be, I was unhappy and stressed. On the other hand, when I did what I felt was natural for me, I was more joyful and free-spirited. Consequently, I have learned to pay close attention to my instinctual feelings to keep me on my true path.

Have we become desensitized to our instincts? It’s as if our whole society has slipped into a state of numbness. Comforts, luxuries, and conveniences of modern-day life dull our senses. Whatever happened to stepping outside the comfort zone?

To truly benefit from the wisdom of nature, you need to engage with it. Engage means to take an active role. Being engaged is not the same as being connected. The fact is, you already are connected to nature and always have been because the human race is a part of it, not separate from it. Now that doesn’t mean you cannot be unaware of your connection to nature if you do not recognize the connection that already exists.

You cannot learn the teachings of nature unless you take an active role in it. For example, you can immerse yourself in the environment by going for a walk and noticing all the living things around you—from the beings that crawl on the ground to the beings that fly in the sky.

Animals, including humans, adapt to the ever-changing environment. The key to adaptation is to keep instincts sharp. So how sharp are your instincts? How well do you adapt? When an eagle is being pestered by smaller birds, the eagle flies to a higher altitude where the little hecklers cannot go. Can you rise above your problems like the eagle who sees the big picture? Are you quick like the hummingbird who flies from blossom to blossom finding opportunities everywhere? Do you have the stamina of the bear who endures the long winters? Are you as graceful as a cat which moves through the day so smoothly it resembles liquid motion?

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Are you keeping the animal in you alive? Unlike what you see in popular movies, you do not need to be the fierce lion that fights to be king of the jungle. After all, a lion doesn’t need to rule the environment to thrive in it. So, you do not have to strive to be the alpha beast by dominating others. Instead, you can simply keep in touch with your animal instincts and listen to its wisdom for guidance.

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We need to learn how to live simply. Animals know how to do this. They do not complicate their lives with unnecessary busyness and hoarding possessions. However, humans so often do. Why? Do all these needless activities and possessions make our lives better or worse? Sure, it may feel good at first to buy that little something which catches our eye in a store, and we convince ourselves we just can’t live without it. But we soon discover those shiny objects lose their appeal after a time, and then we are out shopping again for the next piece of glitter.

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Here is something to keep in mind: the less you have, the less you can lose. You cannot strengthen your inner animal by accumulating possessions. In fact, being surrounded by needless objects weakens your ability to focus on your instincts because all that clutter distracts you.

Furthermore, society seems to be obsessed with staying eternally young. Instead of cooperating with the natural order of things, advertisers act as if we can live forever if we just use the right anti-wrinkle cream, drink expensive spring water in fancy designer bottles, and get a good facelift.

Do you think nature meant for you to stay young forever? Physical immortality is a separation from the natural world. Since you cannot truly separate yourself from nature, you might as well just accept the fact you will eventually die. True, all animals have an instinct to survive. So just live your life as healthy as you can and don’t worry about it.

Something to meditate on today. Engage with nature. Be mindful of your instincts and follow the wisdom of your inner-animal; this will give you a deeper sense of peacefulness. Please don’t misunderstand—peacefulness is not passiveness. When you experience this new type of inner peace, your spirit will soar higher than an eagle, and you will accomplish more than you thought possible. Just don’t expect applause. After all, most people are so wrapped up in their concerns that they don’t even notice the majestic eagles up in the sky. So, don’t be surprised if they don’t notice your accomplishments either.

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