Environment and Growth

Beneath the towering redwood, a hidden world of roots and mycelium quietly sustains the forest—reminding us that growth always begins with the unseen.

A Biological Reflection

I've been thinking a lot about systems lately—specifically how, in biology, the large fundamentally depends on the small. It's fascinating when you consider it. Vast ecosystems rely on microscopic organisms. Towering redwoods depend on fungal networks beneath the soil. Our bodies—these complex machines we inhabit—function only because of cellular processes too tiny to see with the naked eye.

And it struck me: maybe something similar is happening with us as people. Not as advice, just an observation—if you're not thriving as a human being, perhaps your surroundings play a role in that.

I'm not claiming to have discovered some profound truth or secret formula for happiness. It's simply something I’ve noticed in my own life, and in observing others. We are, in many ways, responsive to our environments. Just like those biological systems.

Consider how different you feel in different places. The subtle shift in your shoulders when you enter a space that feels safe, versus one that feels charged or uncertain. The way your thoughts flow more easily in some environments than others. The energy you absorb from certain people—and the energy that quietly drains away in the presence of others.

I wonder sometimes if we underestimate these effects. We're taught to power through, to be consistent regardless of circumstance. There's value in that kind of resilience, certainly. But what if, in doing so, we’re pushing against fundamental patterns that exist throughout nature? What if adaptation and environmental response isn’t weakness—but wisdom?

I remember moving to a new city years ago and feeling a shift in my creative output almost immediately. Was it the light? The rhythm of the streets? The absence of familiar distractions? I couldn’t tell you exactly. But something about that place allowed different parts of me to emerge.

This isn’t about blaming external factors for our struggles. It’s not about abdicating responsibility. It’s simply a recognition that context matters. In biology, organisms seek environments where they can flourish. They don’t force themselves to thrive in conditions that don’t support their nature.

Maybe there’s something to learn from that. Not a prescription—just a possibility to consider.

When something isn’t working, we often look inward first. We question our effort, our technique, our commitment. And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need to do. But other times, maybe we should also look around us. Are we planted in soil that nourishes our particular roots? Are we surrounded by elements that allow our specific kind of growth?

It’s just a thought—a parallel I’ve been turning over. The way the large depends on the small in nature, and the way our well-being might depend on the environments we create and inhabit. Not truth. Not advice. Just something I’ve been contemplating.

What environments help you thrive?

It’s a question worth considering, I think.