“Nature’s Operating System An Inspiration” – written by Thina Balakistnen, trained as an Integral Coach Practitioner and an Enneagram Practitioner and owner of CIP Consulting.

Life is a series of cycles and phases; “it certainly isn’t a bed of roses. Sometimes life expands, blooms and bursts into opportunities. Other times it feels withered, chaotic and quite often unnavigable. Always remember that out of chaos, emerges excellence.

So how can we learn to be excellent, resilient, steadfast yet flexible to cope with life’s eventualities? We need not look too far. The lessons are all around us in nature and yet we have fallen asleep to its mentoring.

Have you heard of Biomimicry? It is about observing nature and emulating it to find solutions to human sustainability. It is about looking with keen interest at the earth’s operating system and how it can impact our human operating system.

I once was given an orchid and as the blooms drooped, died, and dropped, I thought that the plant had no value, but did not throw it away. Continuing to give it water every two weeks I eventually observed, to my amazement, that the plant started the process of growth. New stalks, new nodules and tiny buds began to emerge. Everyday there were more changes, petals were unfolding into the most splendid flowers.

This then brought to my attention that observation, patience, curiosity, kindness to self are some of the key elements to reimagine life. If you observe yourself and look at what triggers you, what amazes you, what excites you, what makes you resilient, have patience with yourself, you will find solutions to recalibrate, refresh, regenerate and to rebuild a phenomenal YOU like the way nature does.

Listening to Shiva Subramanian, a Biomimicry and Life skills Teacher, he maintains that the Earth has an operating system made up of resources, gravity, cycles etc. It is all there for us to look, learn and emulate. The Earth never asks for more resources to operate, yet in times of stress and strain nature never gives up but continues to be creative and to do what is necessary.

What is the lesson here? Nourish yourself especially in the darkest of times not just with food, but surround yourself with positive inspiring thoughts and people, good books, irrespective of your circumstance. Look at and observe nature in action to look at the solutions to co-exist. Look at the collaboration of ants or bees and observe the manner in which they carry their tasks – only with support from one to another. We to can emulate this in our everyday life to create a better environment and future environments.

One thing is for certain is that change is constant. Each one of is special.

“Remember, a firefly does not seem very special in the daylight but in darkness it glows.”