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Finding Motherhood's Wisdom in Nature: Metaphors for Growth, Healing, and Presence

Writer's picture: JennaJenna


One of my greatest sources of inspiration is nature. There are so many beautiful metaphors about motherhood that we can take from the natural world. As both a mother and therapist, I've found that these natural parallels offer profound insights into our parenting journey.


Embracing the Seasons of Change


One thing that is reliable in both nature and motherhood is that change is constant. You just need to look to the changing of the seasons. This is important to keep in mind when you find yourself in a very difficult season. When you are in that negative space, you may feel drawn to resist changes in your life, which can lead to more suffering. It is also easy to feel like you are stuck in that season.


In these moments, you can look to nature to remember that nothing lasts forever and spring is just around the corner. Look for the small changes where you are, maybe you will find new buds on the trees, or notice a few extra moments of sunlight each day. Just as winter gradually yields to spring, difficult parenting phases also shift and transform.


green leaf on the tree

The Dance of Control and Acceptance


Nature is also a great model of control and acceptance. When you spend time and energy focusing on the areas outside of your control, you can create more unhappiness. On the other side, when you relinquish control and surrender to what is, you may experience more peace and fulfillment. This is the concept of radical acceptance.


Consider a growing flower: you can't control the speed at which it grows, and if you were to focus your efforts on the speed of growth, you would likely grow increasingly frustrated. The factors that are within your control are whether you water the flower appropriately, place it in a location with adequate sunshine, and if you provide it with extra nutrients to support the growth.

white flower blooming

Healing Like a Forest: Nature's Trauma Response


Just as forests recover from fires and storms, our journey through trauma and healing follows natural patterns. After a forest fire, the immediate landscape may appear devastated, yet beneath the surface, remarkable regeneration begins. Some seeds actually require fire to germinate, teaching us that growth can emerge from our most challenging experiences.


When trauma gets stuck, it's like a river meeting a dam – the natural flow is interrupted, creating stagnation and pressure. Yet, like water, our healing energy will always seek a path forward, whether it flows around obstacles or gradually creates new channels.


Plants sprouting from the ground

The Beginner's Mind: Learning from Our Children


When I teach the Beginner's Mind to a client, I often challenge them to go on a walk with their child in the neighborhood and interact with nature the way their child does. Children are the best teachers of the Beginner's Mind because they take delight in the everyday.


It can be very easy to see the world as an adult who is bogged down with life's challenges, pressures, and just wants to get to the destination or complete the to-do list. Children are all about slooooowing down and enjoying the process. Especially toddlers. They will examine every stick, pick up every rock, stop to listen for crows, and wave at vehicles. They are experts at being present and seeing the world through a lens of curiosity and amazement.


toddler looking through fence at a body of water

The Art of Non-Striving: Nature's Effortless Flow


Nature embodies the principle of non-striving perfectly. Consider how a river flows – it doesn't push or force its way forward, yet it consistently moves toward its destination. It flows around obstacles rather than fighting against them, adapting its path while maintaining its essential nature.


This principle applies beautifully to motherhood. When we release the need to force outcomes or meet impossible standards, we can flow more naturally with our children's development and our own growth as parents. Like a tree growing toward the light, we can trust our natural instincts and inner wisdom to guide us.


river flowing over rocks

Applying the Beginner's Mind Beyond Nature


The practice of Beginner's Mind extends far beyond our nature walks. Imagine approaching your child's developmental stages with the same curiosity and openness they show to a new flower. What if we viewed their challenging behaviors not as problems to solve, but as fascinating expressions of their growing selves?


This mindset can transform:

  • Morning routines into opportunities for discovery

  • Mealtimes into adventures in sensation and taste

  • Bedtime resistance into chances to understand their fears and needs

  • Tantrums into windows into their emotional world


mom holding her baby in a carrier

Finding Your Natural Rhythm


Nature teaches us that every living thing has its own pace and pattern. Just as some flowers bloom early in spring while others wait for summer, children develop on their own unique timelines. When we attune ourselves to these natural rhythms – both our children's and our own – we can parent with more grace and less struggle.


Remember, like nature, motherhood isn't about perfection – it's about growth, adaptation, and resilience. The next time you feel overwhelmed by parenting challenges, step outside. Let nature remind you that you're part of something larger, something that has been flowing, growing, and renewing itself since the beginning of time.


fireweed

When we open ourselves to nature's wisdom, we find countless metaphors for our motherhood journey. What natural metaphors resonate with your experience of parenthood? I'd love to hear your reflections in the comments below.



signature in cursive jenna berry

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