ATTUNING AND COOPERATING 2

  Learning from ARTIS?

In the previous episode, we emphasized how important it is not to fight nature, not to use violence, but rather to work with it in a flexible and intelligent way. Nature, plants, and animals are excellent teachers.

The Amsterdam zoo, ARTIS, derives its name from the inscription above the entrance: NATURA ARTIS MAGISTRA: nature is the teacher of art, of creativity in all its forms.

In this and the next episode, we will mention some of those lessons that make us creative and effective - which we can therefore use to our great advantage.

A POSITIVE INTENTION

In all endeavors, a positive attitude and confidence in what you do (or don't do) are fundamental. Nature “never loses heart,” always starting over and trying again, continuing to grow and flourish, remaining confident that things will turn out well and beautiful, even though it doesn't know how.

We can learn from this that, in all our efforts, including in the ecological field, we do not need to have a very concrete goal in mind right away, but that a strong desire to contribute to a (more) healthy environment is sufficient. 
That is also the basis on which people can meet and work together. That is the deeper motivation. The concrete focus, what exactly you are going to do, comes after that.

This general attitude prevents you from immediately giving up when someone else who also wants to participate has different practical ideas. If you are both positive, you can consult with each other and support each other instead of competing. That is just a waste of energy.

WELCOMING DIVERSITY

This ties in with a second lesson from nature: diversity is not an obstacle but a source of (new) possibilities. The fact that someone else has a slightly different opinion or experience can be used to enrich each other, to learn from each other and ultimately to achieve even more.

So: welcome diversity and work with it together! Diversity may not always be ‘easy’. It is more challenging. Those who dare to do so generate new energy and new ideas. And that's what it's all about in the end!

PARTICIPATING IN A LARGER WHOLE.

A third lesson: consciously fitting into a larger whole.

This prevents a lot of stress: not trying to control the situation, but calmly considering what is possible in this situation. This relaxes you, overcomes frustrations, and gives you confidence.

We don't have to save the whole world (according to our own understanding). We can do our part, in the situation we find ourselves in, based on the realization that everything is truly connected. A so-called “small” action often has a much broader effect than we suspect. You can happily do your part because you know that you are part of a much larger whole, in which countless others are also doing their part from their own situation.

And then it turns out that one plus one is not two, but three: cooperation gives extra energy. This is called synergy: the extra fruitfulness of positive interaction. You stimulate each other to be creative, and sometimes unexpected things come about—and you contribute more to the greater whole than you first thought possible.

HAVING CONFIDENCE AND TAKING RISKS 

When you enjoy working with others within that much larger plan of nature, which wants nothing more than health and healing, you grow in confidence and courage. 

Confidence and courage are not something vague, just a kind of idea or feeling. Confidence and courage are forms of action. It is actively participating and also daring to take risks, even when success is not guaranteed.

That is certainly a challenge, because we humans want to see the immediate effect of what we do. Trust always works in the longer term. Courage opens up new possibilities. And even though it sounds contradictory, that inner freedom, that ability to let go of immediately visible results, of not knowing for sure, is precisely the true source of creativity and progress! Who dares wins. Those who have confidence and dare to take risks discover that there is more and even much more possible.

Likewise: Dare to take the initiative yourself. Or dare to trust the creativity of others. Dare to trust their suggestions and ideas. Go along with others, even if it wasn't your idea... Together you will work wonders!

To be continued!

Johan Muijtjens