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- The Power of Ambience
The Invisible Force
Do you know that feeling, mood associated with a particular place, person, or thing? Imagine a gorgeous restaurant with live music, delicious food and candlelight. People know this place by its romantic atmosphere.
Now imagine spending your summer holidays in a Greek island. How would you describe this landscape? Idyllic, beautiful, peaceful atmosphere. Yes, you got my point!
The physical environment where you are located, people you're associated with, people who inspire you, life events and circumstances (the pandemic, a layoff) and material resources that are at your fingertips, all these contexts influence our daily choices.
According to Jared Diamond’s book - Guns, Germs, and Steel - the different shape of continents - latitudinal and longitudinal axes - had a profound impact on human behavior and how agriculture spread over the centuries.
Our environment plays a significant role in shaping our habits and behaviors, often more so than our personal qualities like motivation, talent, and effort. Although these traits are key ingredients to reach goals, our environment can have a more profound impact on our actions and future than we thought.
The rapid spread of agriculture in Europe and Asia, compared to other regions of the globe, Americas and Africa, was not only because of the farmers' inherent talents or motivation.
Source: JamesClear.com
Instead, it highlights the power of a supportive environment (predictable climate) in facilitating success. To optimize our probabilities of survival and achieving goals, it's crucial to find contexts that catalyze our progress rather than hinders it.
Everything changes when you understand the influence of this invisible force in your life. You feel differently when you're in the right place and with the right people. I dare to say the atmosphere, the energy does not lie.
Actually, it's a good compass, an indicator you're on the right track. As said in edition 005, have the discretion to say yes or no to the opportunities that appear to you. Your daily choices shape your weeks, months, years, and life. Keep that in mind.
“No man is an island, entire of itself."
Neurological levels
Indigenous tribe and their rituals
We are a collection of stories. No one creates great narratives alone; only in a community. Our society is a continent of shared experiences. We evolved as specie because we could organize ourselves into communities.
In Paleolithic societies, we went from hunter-gatherers to using stone tools. In Neolithic age, we cultivated plants and domesticated animals, allowing small communities to become cities.
Despite thousands of years of evolution, we still gather and keep telling stories of challenges and victories around a campfire or a circle with an object in the center. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a meeting room or camping site.
Father of self-development, Napoleon Hill highlighted the importance of the environment as a determining factor for success. Following similar logic, Dilts Pyramid illustrates the different levels of thinking at which we experience the world. The concept of neurological levels on learning, communication, and change mentions that to shift our reality, we must start with our environment.
Source: excellenceassured.com
And what does it mean in practice? This pyramid helps us to design an action plan for change. Let's imagine you want to lose weight. As a first step, change your ambience by interacting with people who are also pursuing similar goals or people who have already gotten results.
Take action by going to gym, finding a walking buddy, attending yoga or dancing classes, hiring a personal trainer, or getting a fitness mentor to achieve your desired physique. You can apply this system for anything: personal finance, mental health, relationships, real estate, investments, entrepreneurship, etc.
Building or finding an environment that allows you to thrive or get where you want is not always easy. You often look around and may come across friends and family members who don't have the same intention or share the same vision. It's okay.
However, have the focus and courage to prioritize people and things in your life, so that you preserve your energy and motivation to achieve the change you desire.
In my case, I connect with entrepreneurs and explore activities that are out of my comfort zone. Founding a company, learning a new language or losing weight are solo journeys, but it doesn’t mean that we need to walk alone.
Find a support network. Interact with people who share similar visions and they are two steps ahead of you on this journey. It’s a great way to build momentum. Once you take the first step, life generously will bring incredible people into your life. Have faith!
“Flexibility comes from having multiple choices; wisdom comes from having multiple perspectives.”
Range of Opportunities
Never stop learning
Personal growth often requires letting go of aspects of our lives that no longer align with our evolving identity and values. This may involve saying goodbye to relationships that no longer resonate with us, leaving behind social circles that don't reflect our current lifestyle, and abandoning outdated beliefs and behaviors. It may also mean leaving jobs that don't appreciate our worth and releasing habits that no longer serve us.
The ancient wisdom of not serving two masters reminds us of the importance of focusing on what truly matters and aligning with our authentic selves. As we continue to grow and evolve, we should remain mindful of what we need to release to create space for new, more fulfilling experiences and connections.
Remaining within our comfort zones by interacting with the same people, consuming the same content, and engaging in familiar activities may provide a sense of security, but it also limits our growth and potential.
Like watching similar YouTube videos on repeat, staying within our bubble reinforces our existing beliefs and prevents us from exploring new ideas and perspectives. This confines us to mediocrity and hinders our ability to evolve and improve.
To break free from this cycle, search for new experiences, connections, and knowledge. We can expand our skill sets by diversifying our social circles, content consumed, and learning opportunities.
Embracing new challenges and stepping outside our comfort zones enables us to grow and adapt, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling life. We can unlock our full potential and achieve our goals by embracing diversity and challenging ourselves.
Your network is your net worth.
While specializing in a particular field can provide a competitive edge in the job market, limiting ourselves to a single area of expertise can also hinder our growth and adaptability.
For example, an engineer may benefit from pursuing a postgraduate degree in a different field, such as human resources or finance, to broaden their skill set and enhance their problem-solving abilities. By incorporating diverse skills and knowledge, we can increase our versatility and value in a rapidly evolving job market.
As organizations become more efficient, professionals who can tackle complex problems will be in high demand. The key to effective problem-solving lies in creativity, which is fueled by the diversity of our experiences and knowledge.
By expanding our repertoire of skills and knowledge, we can develop a richer understanding of the world and draw on a wider range of resources to drive innovation and progress.
As explored in edition 003, we can enhance our ability to navigate challenges and seize new opportunities by embracing a multifaceted approach to learning and growth.
Broaden your horizons! Study about people management, business, strategy, leadership, fitness, AI, finance and sales. This will make you stand out, trust me. Results-driven knowledge and attention are gold in the digital age. Don't miss the bus!
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
Talk to you next week.
Light and peace,
—FMV
PS: Happy Women's Day to you! For the gentlemen reading this, I wish Happy Women's Day to all women in your life! 🌷
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