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Something Worth SharingShaping Our Surroundings Shapes Us When working with people, I often talk to them about their environment - what they are surrounded by. But this isn’t the only important thing about our surroundings. Who we are surrounded by is important, as is what we do within any given environment - and don’t forget timing and ourselves! This past weekend, my husband and I went to Paris for his birthday. This was my third visit to the city of love, however I was struck by how different it felt to be there. It’s the same place I’d visited when I was 16 and again at 30 - the buildings have been there for centuries and I’d visited some of the same landmarks. So why did it feel so very different this time? Why did we have such an incredible time? Surroundings are complex - they require the right equations to be optimised. What I’ve learned is that environments that allow us to thrive have: Good physical space (keeping rooms clean and tidy with what’s needed) Interest (showing up to an unchanged environment gets dull) Met needs and timing (we need to match needs with the right timing) Clear structure and activities (the environment allows for the right activities) Right people (who - and how they behave - dramatically changes the space) Best version of you (your state of mind, balance and preferences)
Because it is more complex that just having a “cool space” (adding gimmicks to your office isn’t the answer!), it is also personal. What’s right for one person, may not be right for another. Equally, not paying attention to changing needs means you can easily trip up. While I used the word ‘surroundings’, I could easily substitute the word ‘surroundings’ for ‘culture’. If any of the list above is not aligned, it will adversely shape our environment - and us. Equally, get these things aligned and you have magic!
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