Working Naturally

Dear Energy Lady,
It's Monday, and I hate going back into an office after spending the whole weekend outdoors.  Is there any way I can keep the energy of nature going inside 4 walls?

Signed,
Nature Girl

Dear Nature,
Yes, it's true that being out in nature helps our energy to flow, which is why it feels so good.  Often, our thoughts soften and our hearts open outdoors, which is why so many people find inspiration or renewal there.

Offices are usually the antithesis of a natural environment, and even having a few plants in your office doesn't do much to change the atmosphere.  So don't focus on the physical; instead, look at the energy of nature, and how you can make that come alive through you wherever you happen to be.

Here are a few ideas you can try:
--Nature is authentic.  A tree is a tree; a bird is a bird.  One does not try to be the other.  Be authentic at work and bring your whole self to your part in the action.

--Nature thrives in all stages of the lifecycle.   In nature, things are born and they die, and exist in all stages in between.  At work, we often fight against change, rather than accept that it is a natural part of daily life.  If you're holding on to old beliefs, stuck habits or grudges, let them go.

--Nature welcomes everyone.  Are there people at work you dislike?  Do you avoid certain people?  Even fungus, mold and decay are part of nature, and play an important part in nourishing the soil and providing homes for the life of the forest.  So realize that everyone has a role to play, even if you may not like it/them.  See if you can appreciate their point of view and what they bring to the moment, even if that is only negative contrast for others to use to determine a more positive point of view.

--Nature has many personalities.  It can be stormy and destructive, or peaceful and nourishing--sometimes within a period of minutes.  It all serves a purpose, and it's inevitable.   So take care.  Use your common sense and your sixth sense to know when to go forward in a storm or when to ride it out.  Remember that sometimes nature uses wildfires, tornados and other destructive forces to reinvent itself, and that often, something new and better emerges after the trouble has passed.

In other words, be natural, not negative when you come to the office.  Stop trying to change the  nature of the office and instead, live in it as you do when you're outside.

Enjoy!

Love,
EL