You Are WHO You Hang With and WHAT Hangs Around You

It’s much easier to change our environments than it is to change our behavior. The first step to improving our environments is be aware of their existence and how they influence us.

One of the nine ingredients of finding delightful work is: Discover and create environments to thrive within. Read this post to see all nine ingredients. Like all the ingredients, our environments are constantly influencing our pursuit of delightful work; sometimes apparently and sometimes without our knowledge.

Environmental life design is the process of deliberately constructing our environments so that they positively influence us in the way we want them to. Conditioning from our genetic makeup, and the influence of previous formative environments, created the person that we are today. But the world is getting smaller and, with the new dizzying speed and quantity of information, the influence of our social environments has grown stronger. Thus, it’s become even more important than ever to consciously choose our molding influences.

The good news is this: environments make it easier for us to live the fully alive life we most want to live because their pull is like a strong current that carries us along. It’s much easier to go with the current than it is to fight our way upstream.

We’ve all heard the adage, “you are who you hang with.” This is a statement about the power of our Relationship Environment. But are you aware of how all eight environments are molding you? According to my coach training from CoachVille’s Graduate School of Coaching, there are nine in all.

  1. The Memetic Environment is made up of thoughts, ideas, beliefs and knowledge.
  2. The Body Environment is our physical body, its health and energy.
  3. The Self Environment consists of our intangible assets, including strengths, values and feelings.
  4. The Nature Environment. If you don’t know what this is, you’re not out in it enough.
  5. The Spiritual Environment is our connection to the Divine and the invisible connection we feel to one another.
  6. The Relationship Environment is made up of our connections to those closest to us.
  7. The Network Environment consists of our larger communities and associations.
  8. The Financial Environment includes our money, as well as everything that supports our financial well-being.
  9. The Physical Environment consists of our physical surroundings and tangible stuff.

Fork in the road

As these environments are all interconnected, I wonder. How does the rise of social networking today influence who we have become? We are at choice – For example, some folks have gotten rid of their TV in order to have better control over the barrage of “dark energy.” However, even when we are consciously aware, look how much uninvited information seeps through. But we don’t have to allow it. Any of these environments can be strengthened to have an overriding positive influence on the others, particularly the Memetic environment.

Even greater news is that the purpose of deliberately designing environments is to inspire enthusiastic living in every regard. Which brings me full circle to my intention to help people with deliberately designing their environments.

A couple of months ago, I was inspired to create an Unconditional Support Experience. This was a direct result of observing the harmful influence of environments on so many wonderful clients who wanted to live more extraordinary lives. I wondered, could a small group of individuals come together for the soul purpose of providing total unconditional support for one another? In other words, could we experience the ultimate connection, our oneness, within such an unconditionally supportive environment? I say YES!

What do you think about the influence of your environments? Which of your environments are you most inspired to change? Which are you very delighted with? Which are slowing your pursuit of work life happiness? Please choose to inspire the environment of this blog with your comments.

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Comments

  1. ReddyK - The Atma Jyoti Blog says

    An excellent article about the importance of environment. Developing an inner spiritual life will fill out the equation, as the REAL us is beyond our environment, and finding THAT, we gain a real freedom from our environment.

    This is a blog I will be coming back to.

  2. Suzanne Bird-Harris says

    You are so on point with this, Tom. Two years ago I experienced a complete overhaul of my Physical Environment (my house burned). When I tell people that, most want to say how sorry they are to hear that. I always respond, “Please don’t be! It was multiple blessings in many disguises!”

    My Relationship Environment at the time was dominated by a very toxic relationship, which in turn, affected nearly every other Environment. The fire ‘woke me up’ to just how bad the relationship really was, so I ended it. When I moved back into my newly rebuilt house, I truly had the opportunity for a fresh start. Today all 9 of my Environments are ‘caressing’ me, as you say. It’s an adventure most every day now just being me.

    Deliberately designing our environments is what we’re all supposed to be doing as the powerful, creative beings that we are. I’m glad you’re here to help us do exactly that.

  3. Hey ReddyK it’s good to see your charge here. I can’t argue with what you say but while I’m on this plane of existence I’m going to keep creating environments that pull me along. That includes a conscious awareness of my Spiritual Environment. If our environments caress us with loving support – there is no reason to gain freedom from them.

  4. Andrea Hess | Empowered Soul says

    Great article, Tom. Our environment is a reflection of who we are – all of it, our relationships, our physical surroundings, all the nine areas you mention above, serve as perfect mirrors. It’s the ultimate feedback system. We attract according to who and what we are.

    Change who we are on the inside, and our environment must change. Change the external environment, and we inevitably change on the inside, also. Sometimes it’s easier from the outside in than the inside out!

    Blessings,
    Andrea

  5. Suzanne … your fire story made me laugh because of the similarities with my own story. I released a business, a marriage and a house all within 18 months. I sure wasn’t whistling at the time but my trial by fire certainly did serve to wake me up. It’s in the re-building that we get inspired or forced to choose anew.

    The trick of course is to choose to do that without the drama of the big release. Thank you for coming by and sharing. Your present environments sound lovely.

    Andrea … you make some excellent points. They are mirrors and causative agents as well. Yep, I like to prime the inner pump by creating the supportive environment that will carry me forward. I love taking the easy way out.

  6. Keith Johnson says

    Tom: A very well-written and “on-track” article here. Yes, we are indeed similar to those who we associate with, as we exchange energies at many levels. We must consciously “transplant” ourselves if we wish to see positive change…it just doesn’t happen that way. We must say “I’m going to join the Chamber of Commerce” or “I am going to become part of this group or experience”. Then, we will be able to exchange energies with others at a new and many times better level. Let us affirm today that we will live consciously and make well-thought-out decisions that better our future. Regards, Keith Johnson, Author “365 Great Affirmations”

  7. Welcome Keith, you certainly hit on a key principle for extraordinary living when you suggested that we live life consciously. Affirming a strong intention to belong, experience and participate is sound advice. That way we bond intentionally and with strength from the beginning. Thanks for stopping by. I’m looking forward to visiting your site.

  8. Lorraine Cohen says

    What a great post Tom

    I am right with you on looking at the people you invite into your inner circle. I see it as extending my energy outwards that has an ebb and flow. The people who are closest to me share common values and intentions – all are on a spiritual path and value authenticity. How freeing it is to be who I am with friends who cherish the same experience with me.

    Paying attention to the different environments I align with has become a must. When things are out of sync, boy do I feel it. I’m so grateful for the signals that invite me to make shifts in myself and in areas of my life. Keeps me true to who I am.

    Cheers,

    Lorraine
    http://www.powerfull-living

  9. Once again, very insightful. You are what you think about, and you definitely become your environment….the people you surround yourself with. Something to think about……

  10. Lorraine Cohen says

    I have definitely been blessed Tom,

    Many thanks for making me feel welcome. I always enjoy when you stop by my blog!

    Looking at the reflections of my outside world is a great indicator as where I have some mismatches in my different environments. I have also found my body to be a great communicator as to when things are out of alignment.

    It a glorious journey that keeps getting better and better the more I awaken.

    Warmly,
    Lorraine

    http://www.powerfull-living.biz

  11. Clem.… I’m pleased you’re thinking about it. I can definitely tell the energy drain or lift depending on who enters my environments and what their intentions are. I’m happy to say that my relationship with you gives lots of lift. Thank you.

    Lorraine…. You bring up an excellent point. If those in your inner circle all share your values and value authenticity then you have designed your environments that way. We are at choice. Since we are at choice why not choose totally inspiring relationships? It sounds like you have and you’re very welcome to bring that inspiration back to this forum anytime.

  12. You bring up some interesting points in this post. It sounds like the bottom line is that we need to choose our environments and evaluate what we have working for us. Sometimes, something else chooses for us, like a fire, that enables us to step back long enough to really see the true picture and make some changes. I like how you mention each one and what they entail. If one is out of sync it affects the whole. Good post, Tom.

  13. Hi Pat,

    I’m pleased that you liked it. Yes the affect of environments on one another is continual and often very influential. Being aware of them and choosing to design them to support us is one important key to living, as we want to live. I find it’s much easier to change an environment than it is to change my own behavior.

    Tom

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