Environments

Feb 28

Wellness is in Plain Sight: An Introduction to the Power of Environment

Feb 26

What if I told you that wellness is right in front of you, woven into your everyday life, accessible at any moment? Would you believe me?

The problem is, it’s often overlooked, undervalued, and buried under other people’s interpretations of what “wellness” should look like. These days, wellness is a buzzword, a commodity, something constantly being sold to you.

For me, wellness isn’t a product—it’s creativity, energy, authenticity, balance, joy, and inspiration. It’s an intentional practice, a way of living, and a community I cultivate daily. I lead with it every morning, weave it into every moment, and carry it with me until I lay my head down at night. Because when I pour into myself first, the impact ripples outward—touching my family, friends, community, and beyond.

Wellness is simple, personal, and adaptable to what my body, mind, and heart need in the moment. It also means recognizing the noise-both within and around me-and knowing what’s in my control. But before you can truly integrate wellness into your life, you first have to become aware of where you are right now.

And that? That’s a lost art in today’s world.

Let me show you what it means to weave wellness into this moment—starting with the environment around you right now.

Wherever you are right now, pause. Look up. Look around. Take it all in. What are the sights, the smells, the sensations, the energy of your space? Now ask yourself:

Does this environment nurture wellness or feed chaos?
Does it support balance, stillness, and clarity? Or does it push burnout, disconnection, and stagnation?

Now take a deep breath in. And when you exhale, make it the most intentional exhale of your day. Breathe again. Observe what thoughts, feelings, and sensations rise to the surface? How do they feel in your body?

Here’s the thing: yes, we are products of our environment—but we are also its creators. At any moment, you can take action to shape your surroundings in a way that supports how you want to feel in this moment.

Your Call to Action:

Start noticing the environments you live, work, and move through; whether you chose them or not. Your home and workplace are the obvious ones, but let’s take it further. What about the environments you don’t always see? The ones shaped by your social media feed, the way you speak to yourself, the lens through which you view your own life? These can be the most destructive because their impact is subtle, creeping in quietly until one day, you realize they’ve built a wall between who you are and the version of you that feels whole, aligned, and well.

Write down the elements that nurture you—the ones that make you feel connected, clear, and energized.
Write down what pulls you into disconnection, stagnation, or stress.
If you need a guide, lean into our pillars of fuel, movement, and connection—the foundation of the Hippo Social Club and my personal wellness practice.

Every morning, I create space to be still, to close my eyes and tune into my own rhythm. From there, I check in: What do I need today? What’s missing? What’s nourishing me?

And that’s where the 5 Branches of Nourishment Framework come in: