Finding Happiness Through Nature and Creativity by Judith Shaw

We live in difficult times. Daily we hear of culture wars, real wars, mass shootings, floods, fires and multiple other climate disasters and human clashes. 

How on Earth can one maintain a positive outlook and experience genuine happiness? I’ve discovered a few activities that effectively pull me out of dwelling on past challenges or worrying about future uncertainties. These activities consistently guide me back to a state of inner peace and contentment.

Happiness Through Creativity
My first refuge is right at home in my studio. When I become overwhelmed, I make a deliberate choice to pause and retreat to my drawing table or easel.

It takes a moment or two to settle in but then the magic happens. I sense the paints coming alive, even as I feel myself moving outside of ego, outside of time, and inside to the timeless realm of source. I feel myself connected to all life. 

Creativity knows no bounds, finding countless and varied expressions within human beings. Everyone can discover their creative outlet—whether it’s cooking, making music, writing, designing, problem-solving, or simply engaging in conversation. The possibilities for creative expression are endless.

Happiness Through Nature
When I’m too consumed with worry, anger, or sadness to approach my studio, I seek solace in nature, often just steps away in my own backyard. Tending to my garden, I kneel in the earth, connecting with the soil. It opens my soul to the surrounding beauty and abundance. In that moment, I find joy in knowing that plant growth depends on factors beyond my control. Sometimes, I realize it’s my own desire to control outcomes that leads to failure, like planting lettuce and greens in the wrong season or a spot lacking shade. Then, there are the delightful surprises from Mother Earth, like a mystery plant that sprouted in my herb garden this year, turning into a prolific cantaloupe vine yielding sweet melons.

At other times I take my problems for a walk or bike ride in the nearby cottonwood forest along the Rio Grande river. In this serene outdoor area known as the Bosque, I slow down and marvel at the ever-changing tree colors set against New Mexico’s almost always vivid, turquoise sky.

Perhaps a wily coyote slips past me as it lopes its way through the trees. Reaching the river I might find a dragonfly or geese or sandhill cranes, all depending on the season. Sometimes, I might even see a hawk soaring high overhead. And in the winter there is always a loud, raucous bunch of crows to keep me amused. 

The Commonality
Reflecting on these two distinct activities – engaging in creativity and immersing myself in nature—I recognize a common thread: both lead me to a state of mindfulness. This delicious state entails being fully present in the moment, attuned to both external surroundings and internal thoughts and feelings. It fosters a profound sense of connection with all life.

Past hurts, future fears and even self-imposed aspirations can ensnare us in webs of anxiety. To me, happiness blooms when I embrace the fullness of the present moment, amplifying my sense of interconnectedness. As Ram Das eloquently reminded us in the early 1970s, ‘Be Here Now. Both creative engagement and being mindfully in nature help me achieve that state.

View Judith’s work at Judith Shaw Art. Prints, originals, oracle decks and books avilable.