Cultivate your inner Treehugger

Everybody has a treehugger inside. You are not alone if you haven’t noticed. Our culture has relentlessly pushed it to the edge of our consciousness where it may be hard to find. Hidden as your treehugger may be he or she is one of your most loyal friends. Why?

To be clear, my intention here is not to convince you to drop your work, walk outside and hug trees. Allthough, I would certainly encourage you to try and experience what it does to you. You might be surprised.

Then, why do I write about this?

1. It is the end of the year, Christmas is around the corner. Time for reflection and renewal.

2. I have been reading a lot of research about the benefits of deep nature connection for people and how that in turn motivates people to act for the good of the planet.

3. It turns out that many people understand and value their connection with nature much more deeply than is apparent in public. This is at odds with the way we live our lives – and specially our professional lives. For most of us, even if we work for nature or the environment, our work place and culture is not a place where our bond with nature exists, let alone that it is celebrated.

This reminded me of the Christmas gifts I gave my team a couple of years ago – small artworks on left-over scraps of materials called ‘Treehugger’ by artist #EvelinevanderZaken (see picture).

The treehugger in Eveline’s work is clearly there, but keeps hidden – much like our own inner treehugger. While his big fondly groping hands enthousiastically embrace the tree, he hides his face – almost, but not entirely. His nose cheekily peeks out from behind the tree. I’m here…. Come find me!

Like in hide-and-seek the fun is both to be hidden, to find and to be found. The treehugger in the picture is both hiding, making clear its presence and having fun. I found this a wonderfully inviting picture to bring out our inner treehugger, our embodied connection with nature, and have fun with it.

So, why is this relevant?

Like many of us we had spent the year demanding a lot of ourselves chasing targets and killing tasks. We had a committed team working hard doing good work, solving complicated problems for our customers and helping to deliver the energy transition. We had had a tough year shifting our product mix and approach. Everybody had to re-invent their role, things weren’t settled yet and it wasn’t clear when and how that would happen. We needed a story.

It was then that I was reminded of Eveline’s Treehuggers and gave one to each of the team as an invitation to bring their inner treehugger to work and to the team, to be guided by their treehugger in finding solutions for customers and business partners and to trust that that embodied bond with nature will help us find our way as a team and in the market. To invite everyone to celebrate their inner treehugger.

Our treehugger is beconing us back to source, back to a place of connection. A connection that is shared and is grounded in nature. A place of renewal and revitalisation also. From this place purpose can emerge as a shared north star for what direction to follow and how to find our way.

More and more companies recognise the need to put purpose first amidst the vast uncertainties, injustices and planetary distresses that we’re looking to transition through or from. Many of you reading this will somehow also be working on these transitions. You may share with me the incredible amount of posts in your social feeds that talk about complexity, chaos, paralyzing uncertainty and the various frameworks aiming to help us navigate through this. Many of these insights are extremely valuable.

But, as you’re working hard to do your part, balancing your energy levels while demanding everything of yourself, what your inner treehugger can add is that connection to source, to purpose, that guides you and those you work with as you’re finding your path through transitions. A source of calm and focus.

Your treehugger is not a knowing type, telling you what to do. Like a good friend, he or she prefers not-knowing, embracing and holding.

Go on! Discover yours!

Have a wonderful rest and celebration in a few days and an inspired 2024.

Emiel

P.S.1. For those working for planetary health and wanting to work with their inner treehugger or looking to uncover something that is longing to emerge, I’m offering a number of coaching, leadership and nature connection programs in 2024 specially designed for you. For more details check out: www.rebusiness.earth

P.S.2. Check out more from Eveline van der Zaken on her website, in particular her beautiful ‘tree-scapes’ that bring out the interconnectedness of the forest in a very special way: https://evelienvanderzaken.com/