Back to Basic – Because You Already Know More Than You Think
- Brainz Magazine
- 18 hours ago
- 8 min read
Sara has a unique ability to quickly shift energy into presence and joy through her work as a mindfulness coach, speaker, and yoga instructor. She is also the author of the book One With Nature (published in 2025) and a popular speaker in the field.
You are constantly being fed information. News feeds, Instagram posts, TikTok videos telling you how to live, which health tips to follow, the best beauty hacks to stay young, how to get in the best shape of your life, and how to manifest your dream life. And yet, despite all this information, you may find yourself feeling even more confused. You know what? You are not alone in this.
Perhaps that is why it is not such a bad idea to pause sometimes. To take a step back from all the noise, all the advice coming from the outside. To instead stop for a moment, listen inward, and ask yourself: What is truly important to me? And maybe it is time to consider what the words "back to basic" mean for you.
I want you to give yourself permission to pause. To not perform, not improve, not optimise, but simply to be. And let me be clear about one thing. I am not writing this to tell you how to live your life. I am not here to give you more rules or another list to follow. I am writing, if possible, to inspire you to find your way back to yourself, to listen to your body, your pace, your values.
Sometimes, "back to basic" is not about doing more. It is about doing less, but with more focus, more simplicity, and more presence. Above all, it is about being more in tune with who you are, and with who we are as human beings. Because we are human. Not machines. And just like all other living beings, we come from nature and are a part of nature.
So let us dive into a world that is a little less complicated. A world where there is no right or wrong, no must-dos, no pre-made templates. A world where there is simply space for you to feel, reflect, and connect with yourself.
Where do we come from?
A large part of "back to basic" is, of course, about looking at how we live today, and how far that life is from what we evolved for. For thousands of years, humans have lived in close connection with nature. Our bodies, our nervous systems, and our senses are shaped by the shifts of light, the rhythm of the seasons, movement, rest, and community. To feel the ground beneath our feet, to breathe fresh air, and to live in tune with the day rather than against the clock.
Today, many of us spend most of our lives indoors, in front of screens, under constant stimulation. We move less, sleep worse, and are perpetually connected. Not because we are weak or doing anything wrong, but because society has evolved faster than our biology, and we have probably forgotten to listen to what we truly need and where we come from.
"Back to basic" is therefore not about romanticising the past or wishing to go backwards in time. It is about remembering where we come from. About reconnecting with nature, both the nature around us and the nature within us. When we spend time in nature, we often slow down. We breathe more deeply. Thoughts become clearer. The body receives signals it recognises.
Perhaps that is why nature does not just feel calming. It also feels familiar. It feels like home.
And if we listen carefully, nature has much wisdom to share with us. Then it can become easier to let things fall into place, without chasing the latest trends, staring mindlessly at screens, or spending countless hours and resources on solutions outside ourselves.
Five simple yet powerful ways to live from your inner knowing: Trust your own rhythm
Trust is about daring to believe that your body knows. Trust that your emotions are not wrong, but signals. Trust that you do not always need to have all the answers, and that they can unfold in their own time. In other words, stop rushing through life, through answers, and through situations. Breathe.
"Back to basic" often begins here, by daring to let go a little and instead trusting more in what already exists within you.
Let us also connect this to nature. There, trust is inherent. A seed does not doubt whether it will sprout, and a tree does not stress about when it will bloom. Everything happens in its own rhythm. There is a constant flow and continuous change, just like in life. Perhaps "back to basic" can begin with the same kind of trust, that your body, like nature, knows what it needs when you give it time and space to respond.
How, you might wonder? Start small. Explore nature’s healing power and wisdom. I am planting a seed here for you, and it is up to you whether you water it or not. If it resonates with you, allow yourself to explore it further.
The power of silence
It is in silence that we often find answers. This stands in stark contrast to the constant flow of information from social media, news, and other channels. Perhaps this is why clarity sometimes feels out of reach, because there is always noise, stimulation, and distraction around us.
Silence is not emptiness. It is a space where clarity can emerge. Above all, it is an opportunity to be with ourselves and to meet the constant inner noise, the thoughts, you know. Perhaps this is what many people find unsettling about silence, that in it, we are faced with what is truly happening within us.
In a world that is always loud, silence can feel unfamiliar. Yet maybe it is precisely there that we remember who we are, beyond all stimulation. There, we can rediscover simplicity, gratitude, and a quiet joy in life. And once again, "back to basic". It does not need to be more complicated than that. Befriend silence, and in doing so, befriend yourself.
Nature offers a kind of silence that is never completely quiet, yet free from noise. The sounds found there are the most natural to us, a gentle wind moving through the trees, a bird singing, water flowing. Sounds that ask nothing of us, but simply exist.
In nature, there are no demands, no notifications, nothing competing for your attention beyond the present moment. There, the nervous system can rest, the breath can deepen, and the mind can slowly settle. Perhaps it is there, in nature’s stillness, that we most easily remember that we are part of something greater, not separate from it, but deeply connected.
And in that remembrance, something within us can soften. A sense of belonging, of calm, and of being allowed to simply be.
Listening beyond words
To truly connect with ourselves, we need to learn how to listen. Listening deeply is something entirely different from merely hearing. It requires us to pause long enough to notice the subtle signals, fatigue, desire, joy, tension. Signals the body is constantly sending, if we only give ourselves the time and space to receive them.
When we stop listening outwardly, even for a moment, it often becomes easier to hear what is whispering within. But listening is not only about ourselves. It is also about being present with those around us. When you are in a conversation, are you truly there? Or are you caught up in your own thoughts, distracted, or already preparing your response? Are you really listening, or only hearing halfway?
And nature? Nature is a master of listening. Just look at the animals. Their attention to sound is remarkable, and perhaps that is because they are fully present in the moment. So how can we practise becoming better listeners with the help of nature? Step outside and truly listen to what surrounds you, the wind moving through the leaves, birdsong, the sound of water, perhaps even an animal nearby. There are no demands, no pressure, no distractions, only presence.
In this kind of attention, we can train both our sensitivity and our patience, and be reminded that listening is not only about sound, but about awareness. Perhaps listening is not about finding immediate answers, but about creating enough stillness for them to arrive.
Curiosity opens doors
Just as you read this, I do not want you to accept everything I say uncritically. Be discerning, but also be curious. Curiosity in life can take you far and support you in many situations. Instead of immediately judging others or deciding what is right or wrong, see if you can approach with curiosity and open yourself to different perspectives. This does not mean you have to agree, but curiosity can offer new insights and create a softer, kinder relationship both with yourself and with others. And I believe this is something the world needs more of.
Let "back to basic" be an exploration rather than a belief system. Notice how the ideas land within you, how they affect your well-being and the way you live your life. Allow yourself to gain your own experience.
There are no fixed answers. What works in one context may not work in another. That is why it is important to be discerning about what you take in. What resonates with you? What feels true for you? Do not buy into everything you read, see, or hear. But do not forget curiosity. It creates a more sustainable relationship, both with yourself and with the world around you, than blindly following someone else’s advice ever could.
That curiosity also helps you pause and reflect before accepting the information you hear. It allows you to feel more deeply what truly resonates with you, rather than just taking everything at face value.
Learning from children
Ultimately, "back to basic" is about daring to become a little more like children again. To learn from them, and from what they carry so naturally, playfulness, curiosity, and a deep presence in the moment. Children remind us of spontaneity, creativity, and simple joy. They are not preoccupied with what comes next or what should have been. They are fully engaged in what is happening right now. In that way, they show us what it means to truly be present.
After we have slowed down, learned to listen, and allowed curiosity to guide us, playfulness becomes a natural next step. It softens us. It brings lightness back into life. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us that not everything needs to be productive, efficient, or purposeful to be meaningful.
There is a quiet wisdom in allowing ourselves to play, to explore without a goal, and to meet life with the same openness and wonder we once had as children. It also invites laughter, something deeply important, and something I believe we could all use a little more of in our lives.
Last reminder: "Back to basic"
I would like to end this article by highlighting the importance of simplicity, gratitude, and curiosity. It is time to stop overcomplicating life and instead return to "back to basic", back to what truly matters, and back to the heart. Because you are worth it.
Let’s connect
If you would like more inspiration, I warmly invite you to explore my book, One with Nature. I also gently encourage you to spend time in nature and discover the wisdom it holds for you. You are always welcome to connect with me on Instagram.
Read more from Sara Brinell
Sara Brinell, Author, Speaker & Awareness Guide
Sara is an expert in inner harmony and the healing power of nature. She carries a profoundly healing story, having experienced depression in her teenage years and, later in life, the early loss of both her parents. These experiences became part of a deeper journey that eventually led her to guide others back to their hearts through her work as a yoga instructor, mindfulness coach, and speaker. She also shares her insights through her book One With Nature. Her mission is to show that loneliness can become a path to deeper connection, and that nature can heal where words are not enough.
