Ideas need a healthy environment to thrive. Organizational skills need a strong environment to thrive. YOU need a healthy environment to thrive!

If you’re struggling bringing your cool ideas to life, take a look at your work environment to see if that’s an issue.

Ideas are kind of like the DNA in your body. Each of the 37 trillion cells in your body has a little road map of DNA in it. But DNA is triggered by the environment the cell lives in; the DNA by itself can’t take action. In a healthy environment, a cell thrives. In a toxic environment, a cell dies.

If you want to avoid catastrophic illness, you strive to create an environment where your cells thrive. You eat well, watch your weight, exercise, meditate, and you’re happy. Healthy living isn’t a guarantee you won’t have to deal with illness, but it gives you the best shot at keeping cellular proteins wrapped tightly around potential DNA triggers that can harm you.

The same is true for ideas. When you have a great idea, you have the map, the DNA elements, but that idea needs a great place to sink its roots.

Think environment isn’t important? Picture a great vacation you had and how that environment changed your energy and shaped how you felt. Or think about a place closer to home – a park, a museum, a restaurant. How do you feel when you go someplace that has mystical, inspiring views? Where the smells are wonderful? Where you’re treated kindly?

You may think that’s all in your head, but a healthy environment can change you right down to your core. Harmony begets harmony!

In contrast, think how you feel at a core level when you’re in a messy or hostile environment. A restaurant with dirty bathrooms and angry waitstaff. A service station with dirty boxes and rags on the floor. A snobby store where the staff isn’t welcoming.

Now think about where you sit down to do your work. Is it harmonious? Or hostile?

• Is it warm and welcoming?
• Is everything around you clean and in working order?
• Is it orderly but comfortable?
• Do you feel safe there?
• Are there distractions piled up in corners?
• How’s the light?
• The smell?
• Are the colors warm and inviting?
• Is there a place to put your stuff, and a comfortable chair to sit in?
• Is there healthy food nearby?
• How’s the noise level?
• Is there something beautiful and inspiring to look at?
• Is this a place that’s truly yours? If someone walked into your work environment, would they say, “This is so YOU!” Or is this a neutral place where anyone could work?

If there’s something wrong where you work – at home or in an office – fix it! If the energy of the room is crazy, re-arrange the furniture. Move the trash can. Add a table. Bring in some color. Add a painting or picture you love to look at. If it’s too hot or too cold, too dark or too bright – adjust! Then try again to get the seeds of your good idea growing.

Fussing with your work environment may feel like you’re procrastinating. And you can argue with yourself about just looking past environmental issues. But taking time to assess and adjust can be invaluable as you take control, regain focus, and get inspired.

If you have an idea, you have the DNA. What can you do today to help that idea thrive?

I visited a Children’s Garden at a local park today as part of a learning program. I could definitely write here. It meets all of the above criteria!

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