Self-geography – moving forward

• Exercise – where are you? Where is your place?  Think about your self-geography

When we think of ourselves in the analogy of a tree, we also have to think about our own self-geography.  In my book, Your Inner Tree, I define personal geography as composed of unique experiences, roots, genetics, and one’s interaction with place, space, and time. It is a holistic map that includes your past, your present moment, and your future goals or desires.  As an exercise, when I’m thinking of new directions/bifurcations and a new vision of what my tree might look like, it’s important for me to take stock of where my tree lives within the environment and if my actual “geography” needs to change.  Will I be able to nourish my tree in such a way that I can grow this new branch, support it, build and strengthen this path?

Key aspects of Self-Geography include:

• Environmental Interaction: exploration of the relationship between your “inner tree”—your internal state and identity—and the external surroundings required to nourish that state.
• The Power to Adapt: Is the location of my current environment and are the circumstances in my life supportive and adaptable to my new branch/pathway? It is important to identify the kind of environment you need in the moment to flourish (or successfully “branch” out).  Does the environment around me, the supportive “forest” of people, physical activity, family, community allow me to grow in a serene, windless space; setting my branch up for success?
• A Tool for Grounding: Mapping your Self-Geography helps you understand how to create a supportive and flexible environment to fully nourish your inner being and sustain your roots.
• Nourishing Roots (knowledge of your tree and its needs): Just as certain trees cannot survive in the desert, your Self-Geography involves recognizing the specific “soil” or conditions your roots need to remain healthy and stable. 

Ultimately, the goal of understanding your Self-Geography is to foster self-awareness and self-efficacy, allowing you to adapt your surroundings to meet your current emotional and physical needs.