Pssttt… Your soul is waiting.

"Do you know about this thing called Feng Shui? It's about the energy of a space and place." - My client, the CEO of a major European fashion design house, posed this question as we collaborated on their new showroom and office space. If you're unfamiliar with my background, I ran a design studio for nine years in the '90s, working with major designers to create their retail store concepts and showrooms. My approach to design was rooted in the belief that people instantly feel a space when they enter it, so her question immediately captured my attention.

I went on to spend several years studying Feng Shui and became a Certified Feng Shui consultant. However, after getting certified and working in the field for a while, I quickly realized that people were looking for ways to ensure their homes and spaces were "lucky” - that it would bring good fortune and love —as if luck was an external force we either possess, acquire, or lack. I realized this wasn't my calling, but the core principle still influences how I create culture and community.

Workplaces and their cultures are fundamentally about people. Relationships generate an energy in a room that we sense and feel, not just see and observe. The atmosphere affects how we feel in each other's company, much like how a space's design can make us feel uncomfortable and exposed or comfortable and safe. We might not be able to pinpoint one specific element. Still, it's the holistic experience of the felt sense we all carry within us—something most people don't pause to acknowledge.

TRUST YOURSELF

We've all experienced walking into a place where stress seems to seep from the walls, and everyone is on edge. In those moments, we can't wait to leave. In the same way, we've also entered spaces where we feel instantly welcomed and at home. This contrast illustrates why workplace culture, team collaboration, and human-to-human connection aren't challenges easily solved from the outside in—they're phenomena we all contribute to.

While we often adapt and adjust to others to be accepted and included, we must realize that our individuality is also part of the solution. Even if we think we don't matter, we each play a role in shaping our environment.

When we feel excluded from a group, we can easily lose confidence in ourselves. However, as much as we want to belong, abandoning ourselves and who we are is not the key to belonging. Owning who we are is; however, it takes honesty and courage to embrace ourselves for who we truly are rather than who we believe others will accept.

However, it's never a done deal. Those feelings of insecurity keep resurfacing. The process of trusting ourselves is never linear. We keep changing and growing, and our sense of self evolves too.

Developing inner and outer awareness is critical to growth and essential for a better understanding of different situations, environments, and people. Just as we can sense the energy of a space, we can tune into our inner feelings and intuitions.

To resist reacting, we must be able to discern when the constantly spinning thoughts in our minds tell us we're not doing enough—sparking anxiety and lack of confidence.

Instead, we must learn to listen to our hearts and souls. It's typically the smaller voice in the background, cheering us on to hold our own, telling us that we are enough, and rooting for us to allow our true confidence to shine through.

It can feel a lot like trusting your instincts. Noticing the initial gut feelings about a place, person, or situation. However, we must pause and discern our biases and beliefs to truly listen inside. Otherwise, we might react in fear and self-protection, causing conflict instead of connection.

KNOW YOURSELF

When we pause and listen inside, giving space to the quiet voice from our heart and soul, we begin to distinguish our patterns of behavior driven by our insecurities, fears, and anxieties—often accompanied by our mind telling us we're not doing things right. This is the kind of internal dialogue we need to stop before it begins, avoiding the rabbit hole where we start believing these false narratives, even when we know they're untrue.

It's the greatest heartache when we know we have more to offer, when we care deeply and want to contribute, yet feel held back by our own beliefs and judgments.

Instead, we can learn to trust our impulses and instincts that urge us not to follow along but to speak up. Those instincts that plead with us to show robust vulnerability, share what we care about and why it matters, or even ask for help.

I want to emphasize that this isn't a one-time learning experience where we suddenly have ourselves all figured out. Instead, it's an evolving relationship with ourselves that becomes increasingly meaningful over time.

By cultivating self-awareness and an intimate relationship with our personal energy, we can navigate workplace dynamics more effectively and authentically. Our feelings and thoughts influence how we interact with others and contribute to the overall atmosphere of a workplace. This self-knowledge empowers us to engage more genuinely in our professional environment.

Noticing and acknowledging how we feel, rather than pushing it aside, helps us become more in tune with ourselves. This self-awareness better equips us to form authentic connections with others.

WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED

When we pause to listen to our inner voice, we can better balance external and internal cues, which helps us navigate complex social dynamics in the workplace.

There's a saying, "When a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, it can cause a tornado in Texas." This metaphor illustrates how interconnected we are and how small actions can have far-reaching consequences and impact.

Care and stress both have ripple effects in the workplace. Our behaviors and attitudes can spread throughout the organization, influencing others. At the same time, we react to the environment around us. Even when we feel isolated, we're never truly alone in this interconnected web of workplace dynamics.

By understanding our emotions and pausing to choose our responses to different people, situations, and environments, we can help create spaces that feel welcoming and foster positive interactions. Instead of feeling compelled to fight for our identity, we can be ourselves and let our inner wisdom guide us. We naturally focus on more meaningful conversations and collaborations when we trust our intentions. By learning to pause and listen to that quiet voice within, we can explore how self-awareness and inner trust contribute to building meaningful connections and positive workplace cultures.