(Nimue)
Back when I was at university, there was still a debate going on about nature versus nurture in terms of who we are and how we develop. Since then the evidence has mounted up that we are profoundly affected by our environments. Our genes can be turned on and off by what we experience. Our physical health, whether we can sleep, our emotional states and how stressed we feel are all impacted by what's around us day to day. Of course we're all different and what one person finds exhausting another will find exhilarating.
In recent years I've watched with interest the way people are talking a lot more about enrichment for pets. The creatures who live with us all have needs around what will make them happy, and life in a small and empty cage certainly isn't it. Alongside that of course I see people recognising that those same enrichment issues apply to them, and to the people around them. Rat studies I ran into back in my uni days have long since established that there's a massive relationship between living in a rich and stimulating environment, and how intelligence develops. It's only in impoverished environments that inherited intelligence counts for anything much.
It's worth exploring how your environment impacts on you. What do you need to have around you? What's the right level of stimulation? Do you need noise or quiet? Do you need colour and plenty to interact with or do you need minimalism? What kind of tactile surfaces suit you best? What do you find stressful, and what do you find relaxing? While quiet and minimal spaces are often framed as being the most soothing - along with the great cry that we should declutter - not everyone thrives in that kind of space. Knowing what you need is really important.
My ideal surroundings include plants, and being able to see trees. I need my background sounds to include bird song, and ideally also running water. Clutter doesn't affect me, but I need functionality in a space, I need it set up so that I can do things. Ideally I need enough clear floor space to be able to dance. I do better with total darkness at night, but it turns out that if I'm otherwise not stressed I can manage without that.
Often it's not possible to be totally in control of a space, but it is worth doing whatever you can to create an environment that suits you. What's around you will impact on your sense of self, and it's worth investing in a space that allows you to be who you want to be.
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