Do you remember how you felt the last time you saw a big animal in the wild? Did you experience that liberating feeling of being out in the wild? At Rocky Mountain National Park, I came very close to a massive bull elk while hiking. Not too far from the trail, the bull was roaming freely through the woodland. Sensing me, the elk slowly raised his neck and held his head high revealing his huge antlers, with strands of peeling velvet hanging from them. We paused. Then the bull continued roaming and eventually moved on—brushing freely into the forest.

Could this elk help unlock the secret? How can you reconnect with your true self? 

I was mesmerized. Later, I found myself wondering why that moment felt so meaningful. What’s behind this feeling when we see a magnificent animal like an elk? Something about seeing an animal in the wild resonates deep inside of us and evokes a profound sense of aliveness. For a moment we feel present, whole, and resourceful. Perhaps it’s how they wander freely, or how they pose confidently, or maybe it’s simply how they just are. Here are 3 powerful ways to reconnect with your true self:

1. Being present

What I first noticed was how synchronized the elk seemed to be in the present. He looked so poised and trusting of himself. In contrast, we tend to get lost in our thought-loops of continuous mental rehearsals only to get stressed and anxious.

Fortunately, there is something important we can learn from the elk. We can practice being in the present. Just as we see the elk—exposed—so can we engage in the present by being fully aware within our body.

Pause for a moment and breathe.

Breathe deeply, not the shallow breaths we’re used to. I’m so used to quick breaths that when I breathe more deeply I get dizzy. This simple and mindful activity forces you to focus in the present. Feel your belly expand all the way up to your chest and shoulders. Your hands, your body, like the antlers, are fully functioning and capable. Being present means setting your thoughts aside. You focus on the present and practice trust in yourself, in your own massive elk.

2. Being whole

What I was truly thrilled to see was the elk himself, his being. Not his achievements. Not his possessions. I realized, in that moment, that the elk is already successful being an elk—and so are you! We are already successful human beings. I wouldn’t want the elk to be anything other than an elk, and neither should you.

Paradoxically, we should strive to become better human beings, but not from a place of incompleteness. What is the alternative? Becoming better at helping others. And freed from worries and anxieties about what we should do and who we should be, we can begin to open up to what we find meaningful.

Being whole, that I am enough, we begin to feel energized to show up complete. You’ll start to enjoy and explore your woodland, not from a place of need, but from a place of wholeness. Choosing to do your art, create your craft, and express yourself with wholeness, enables energy to flow from worry toward creativity.

3. Being resourceful 

Finally, I appreciated how instinctively attuned the elk was to the environment. I could feel how grounded he was in his senses. This is why the elk is resourceful and stands so confident. This magnetic connectedness is what we feel when we encounter an animal in the wild. We inadvertently become fully aware of ourselves and nature as one. And in that moment, we are inspired to experience the world itself, not just our thoughts about it. There’s no need to pretend, only gratitude to express.

Nature invites you to be more synchronized with your senses in the now, and that’s where you find just how resourceful you are. How? When preoccupied, deliberately slow down and notice your breathing. Acknowledge your thoughts, and gently let them go. Ask yourself: do I really need to know all the answers and outcomes? Of course not. 

Encountering the elk was an incredible reminder that we are fully functioning and capable beings! I learned that from a place of wholeness, we can feel complete at our core. Stop chasing things to improve yourself. Instead, pursue what you care about and focus on how to help others.

That’s the secret. It’s relieving, isn’t it?

No wonder it’s so thrilling to see animals in the wild, it is our core longing to be whole. We want to feel grounded, connected with life, and engaged in the present. It’s certainly worthwhile. When you begin to think a little too much, reconnect with your true self, find the elk within you. Let it guide you to feel massive and whole. Let it spark trust in yourself. And ignite resourcefulness in your life!