Finding your way: how running outdoors can help you discover your inner compass.
Running outdoors can help you discover your north through new surroundings.
Running is undoubtedly one of the activities I most enjoy around the year. Anywhere I travel, I dedicate some time to it.
Whether I am spending a long weekend in a new place or venturing off-grid to unplug for a more prolonged period, there are a few better ways to acquaint myself with a location. Logging some kilometres is one type of activity I connect mind and body.
I always celebrate the feeling of discovering somewhere on foot — featuring revelations through running, from the empty beaches of Cape Verde, Sardinia or Porto Santo, as well as in the Scandinavian natural reserves where pristine places abound. It’s a moment to feel in awe through unravelled places as I immerse in them.
The silence, with the colourful and contextual details in the background, while I am running, is a significant boost and one of the best antidotes in life I have ever experienced — a natural luxury.
You’re the sky. Everything else is just the weather. — Pema Chödrön
I found the quote above insightful. Running is a great way to achieve physical and mental well-being. I see it as a meditative process.
In these moments, I naturally find answers without much effort, as I am connected with body and mind.
Any sensory input can trigger emotions. When you remove those mental and physical triggers, you can stop feeding them.
We want to minimize the mind’s reactive tendencies, which is what humans strive for across ages.
The mature, practical adult mind restrains the impulsive, desire-driven child mind. I am sharing that we want to remain vigilant while driving the mind.
A bond between the child and the adult mind has its challenges. Running is a tool regulating the sensory input allowing us to train the mind by building the relationship between the child and the adult mind.
I encourage you to try long-term if you haven’t yet practised. You have a prolonged trained state, as the intellect is awake, aware, and vigilant while you experience the route you uncover, evaluating at the same time the best choice to move with your body.
The aim is not to silence the mind, but to keeps you balanced between the child’s and adult’s minds. We want to strengthen our relationship with the mind and focus on what boosts us with high-frequency energy.
Cause ideally, you can navigate anything that seems challenging and fun with the same balance and equanimity without being too excited or depressed in pain.
Dedicating time to enjoy the beaten track path through this activity, it produces vast benefits. Regular running can improve your stamina and endurance, allowing you to perform physical activities more quickly.
Discovering your inner compass and blazing your trails
Running helps to cultivate inner calm. We can ward off mental, physical and emotional stress.
It lets you clear the mind. The repetitive motion and rhythm of running can help you focus your thoughts and bring you to the present moment. It can be a way to slow down and find solace, similar to traditional meditation practices.
It’s a time to get away from distractions and enhance your focus.
Running can also help you build resilience and determination, which can be crucial in pursuing your goals and defining your paths.
The Practice of running outdoors can energize you and boost other aspects of your life, helping you visualize and create a life that is authentic and meaningful to you.
If you’re consistent, you become attuned to the changing seasons — from the stillness of a frigid winter morning to the cooling relief of a Summer breeze.
Benefits I find relevant through outdoor running:
- The fresh air, natural surroundings, and sense of being in nature in almost empty places can enhance the meditative experience and promote overall well-being.
- I focus on the breath, body sensations, and surroundings while running.
- The repetitive motion and rhythmic breathing of running promote a sense of calm and relaxation.
- Ultimately, the specific meditative state experienced through running boosts a resilient mindset and level of focus.
- As it clears the mind, it allows me for increased focus and self-reflection. When running, I can process my thoughts and emotions, leading me to understand my needs and values better.
- This tool results in a stronger sense of intuition and improved decision-making skills.
Accomplishing it can be a way to boost your inner compass or a sense of purpose. Moreover, practising this activity enables you to find your north, blaze your life trails and pursue your goals continuously and more firmly.
