A dawn. A toddler’s laughter. That first sip of freshly brewed espresso.
These seem to be easy, on a regular basis issues. However as a rule, these are features of our fast-paced lives that many people overlook.
Schedules, deadlines, and to-do lists have consumed our day-to-day. And we hardly ever get to cease to breathe within the magic of the second.
Herein lies a transformative observe that many people fail to domesticate. It’s one which has the facility to reshape the way in which we see the world and, on the identical time, improve our well-being.
That observe? Gratitude.
And one particular person has devoted his life’s work to exploring and selling this notion—all within the type of artwork and nature. His identify is Louie Schwartzberg, a grasp of visible storytelling and acclaimed filmmaker greatest recognized for his documentaries Gratitude Revealed and Improbable Fungi.
In an episode of The Mindvalley Present, Louie shares his unorthodox perspective on gratitude—one that features an sudden connection: mushrooms.
Pay attention: You may catch the total interview on The Mindvalley Present:
Who Is Louie Schwartzberg?
The identify “Louie Schwartzberg” could also be linked to gratitude and mushrooms, but it surely’s synonymous with breathtaking timelapse pictures of nature. He’s spent an excellent portion of his life capturing the distinctive mix of creative imaginative and prescient and scientific curiosity.
I really like making movies not solely concerning the little issues but in addition about unveiling the thriller [of] ‘what’s the basis of life?’
— Louie Schwartzberg, director, producer, and cinematographer
His work isn’t nearly capturing awe-inspiring visuals—it’s about storytelling. By way of his beautiful cinematography, he weaves advanced narratives of nature and life, shedding mild on the intricate tapestry of connections that outline our world.
Louie’s method is deeply rooted in understanding nature’s female side. “The true story of nature is extra concerning the female,” he emphasizes. “It’s about relationships; it’s about connection; it’s about rebirth, regeneration, love, nurturing.”
Certainly, it’s these interactions that always go unnoticed. These are the moments of magic that we’ve glazed over and not using a second thought, those we take without any consideration.
By way of Louie’s lenses, nevertheless, these moments grow to be a symphony of sunshine and colour. It’s a testomony to the unfathomable magnificence that’s nature.
For instance, in his Netflix documentary Fantastic Fungi, Louie brings us into the superb world of those little vegetation. His movie reveals us the facility of mushrooms and the way they will help heal us and the planet. And it’s this mixture of nature, artwork, and other people which might be on the coronary heart of Louie’s concepts about gratitude.
Louie believes that once we begin to discover the small particulars in nature round us, we begin to really feel extra grateful. But it surely’s extra than simply having fun with the sweetness round us; being grateful will help us really feel higher, be extra constructive, and enhance our psychological well being.
The Advantages of Gratitude, In keeping with Science
Gratitude isn’t only a feeling; it’s “the important thing to happiness,” in keeping with Vishen, the founding father of Mindvalley.
There’s loads of research that highlights the advantages, together with:
- Decrease blood strain
- Higher sleep
- Stronger immune system
- Increase in confidence
- Larger ranges of endurance
- Extra positivity
- Capable of “bounce again” sooner
- Much less concentrate on materialistic issues
- Enhance relationships
- Make higher choices
These, amongst others, can finally make you happier in the long term.
And the factor is, Louie’s work helps these scientific findings. However he goes even additional.
He reveals how a gratitude observe can change your life. And he does this in a stunning manner—with the world of mushrooms.
The Intersection of Gratitude, Mushrooms, and Mindfulness
Gratitude? Mushrooms? Mindfulness? These three concepts collectively may seem to be an odd connection, very similar to artwork and neurology, once they’re utilized to advertising and marketing methods. However dive deeper into Louie’s work, and also you’ll discover a tremendous story about how essential mushrooms are to the world.
The factor is, Improbable Fungi isn’t nearly totally different sorts of fungi and even the psychedelic advantages you will get from ingesting them. Somewhat, it’s about realizing how a lot mushrooms do for us and the world, making these ignored little guys one thing to be glad about.
“Mushrooms break down natural matter, which creates soil,” he explains. “And with out soil, there’d be no vegetation. So with out fungi, there’d be no life on our planet.”
What’s extra, science is beginning to present that sure mushrooms—psilocybin, for example—can have a huge impact on psychological well being. They may even assist with issues like melancholy and nervousness.
So, there are the mushrooms that assist make the world go ‘spherical. Then there’s the gratitude for it and the issues it helps produce.
However what about mindfulness? Nicely, it’s merely that mindfulness is experiencing all of life in all its fullness—the odor of a flower, the style of a strawberry, and even the quiet calm of a forest.
These three concepts—thankfulness, the marvel of nature, and being within the second—are a reminder that we’re all a part of the world. And that helps us really feel like we belong and, finally, impacts our total well-being.
Methods to Domesticate Gratitude: 3 Sensible Ideas From Louie Schwartzberg
Saying “thanks” is only one a part of gratitude. Acknowledgment and deep appreciation for the nice issues in life are the opposite components. And that is the angle that Louie has devoted his life to cultivating and provoking others with.
So how will you nurture gratitude like he does? Listed below are three ideas he shares on The Mindvalley Present:
1. Be grateful
As talked about, Louie is a large advocate for the observe of gratitude (in any case, he made a film about it).
“It’s really easy to fall right into a observe of gratitude,” he says. “It stops the unfavorable considering that all of us get, I believe, sucked into, particularly in right this moment’s world.”
What’s extra, it has a therapeutic impact. The power to kind via ideas and feelings reduces the chances of coronary heart illness, as one study from the College of San Diego discovered.
Louie Schwartzber’s tip: There are many methods to do that observe, from retaining a gratitude jar to easily saying it out loud.
One which Louie highlights is a gratitude journal—a each day exercise that encourages you to write down down three stuff you’re grateful for. The ability of this observe lies in its simplicity. By forcing you to cease and consider what you’re grateful for, it shifts your consideration from burdens to blessings.
2. Be conscious
“Hack your current with mindfulness,” Vishen has been recognized to say. And with good purpose.
For one, it’s a method of appreciating the small, intricate particulars you could miss as you go about your day. (And this ties again to the observe of gratitude.)
Two, it’s about having sensory experiences—see, hear, contact, odor, and style. With mindfulness, you are taking the time to see the timber sway, hearken to the rustle of leaves, really feel the earth with grounding, odor the freshly minimize grass, and style the fruits of nature’s labor.
And third, by consciously pausing to immerse your self in what’s happening round you, you possibly can elevate your emotional well being. It minimizes the psychological behavior of revisiting previous sorrows or worrying about future uncertainties.
Louie Schwartzber’s tip: In the event you’re open to it (and if it’s accessible legally), examine what Louie mentions about psychedelic experiences. Regardless of its controversial status, he explains that “it’s a portal into feeling the power that’s throughout us that we usually don’t see.”
It means that you can have a present-focused consciousness. And by slowing down and having that sensory expertise, you’ll be capable to foster a way of marvel and gratitude for the pure world.
3. Be with nature
Mom Earth known as that for a purpose. As any mom does, it nurtures us and supplies us with the sustenance we have to thrive.
And as research reveals, doing issues with Her is an antidote for stress. It goes again to having a sensory expertise—seeing, listening, feeling, smelling, and tasting.
“Once I found nature, I discovered my biggest trainer,” Louie says. “She taught me all the things about lighting composition, texture rhythms, additionally a portal into common rhythms that join with the deepest a part of [my] soul.”
Taking his cue, being in nature can remind you of your interconnectedness with the world. That will help you with mindfulness. And that can bolster your sense of gratitude.
And as you now know, that, because of this, can actually do wonders to your thoughts, physique, and spirit.
Louie Schwartzber’s tip: Going for a hike, nurturing a backyard, or watching a documentary like Improbable Fungi—there are such a lot of methods to have interaction with nature. Such interactions with what Mom Earth has to supply will help you respect its magnificence and complexity.
As Louie says, “Nature’s imagery is drugs.”
Sowing Your Seeds of Thanks
The story of Louie Schwartzberg, gratitude, and mushrooms is many issues—a journey of exploration and connection, uncovering the profound magnificence within the day-after-day, and acknowledging our interconnectedness with the world round us.
But it’s additionally a reminder to pause, respect, and specific gratitude for the wonders that encompass us. All the pieces from the smallest mushroom to the huge expanse of the night time sky.
So, the following time you encounter a mushroom throughout a stroll, bear in mind Louie’s message: Don’t merely dismiss it as an odd, fungal organism. As a substitute, see it as an emblem of nature’s marvel, a immediate to be grateful and conscious, and presumably a gateway to deeper emotional well-being.
So how do you get there?
“It’s important to begin by being actually clear within your self,” Louie explains. “Psychedelics allow you to do this. Music permits you to do this. Stunning imagery permits you to do this. There are lots of portals into the Divine.”
One different strategy to the Divine? By way of private development.
And when you’re thinking about studying extra about how one can degree up in life, unlock your free Mindvalley access. With it, you could have entry to:
- Free quest classes,
- Every day guided meditations from Mindvalley mentors,
- Invitations to unique neighborhood occasions, and
- The world’s greatest studying expertise.
As Vishen says, “Your soul is right here to develop.” And so, welcome in.