Coronavirus: How nature & our animal intelligence can help
By Kat Hill | 06 May 2020 | Expert Advice, Feature
Rosie Tomkins is founder of the Natural Capital Consultancy and author of N-stinctive, an inspirational book that provides s an alternative to traditional leadership training.
Rosie aims to unlock the power of the natural world to provide strength and confidence to people.
Here, Rosie Tomkins, shares her advice…
With Covid-19, nature has given us a shock and many of us are feeling anxious, sad and at sea. You may find that lockdown with loved ones is missing the energy of your clients and the pleasure they get from your nail artistry.
So, how can we find some uplift as the lockdown continues?
We have to look to nature and use the power of Natural Intelligence (NQ). NQ is the positive use of your instincts, insights, and perception.
Let me share my tips on accessing your NQ so you can keep in contact with clients and look ahead to restarting your work as a hands-on nail professional.
Consider how nature handles hardships
Each day animals in the wild wake up to face more daunting challenges than we do. Thanks to legendary television programmes and films, we can appreciate the tremendous courage as animals defend their territory, their food, and their young from danger.
We see animals adapting to new circumstances and surviving despite bushfire, famine, tsunami, destruction by humans, etc.
Use these stories to inspire you, to help you feel motivated to tackle the current crisis head-on and for you to thrive through it.
Work & rest
If you are working or worrying 24/7 ,your health, artistry and well-being are at risk. In the wild, animals are expert at expanding or conserving energy as needed.
For example, a cheetah, after an unsuccessful hunt, doesn’t leave herself open to attack by depleting all her reserves, she makes sure she has enough fuel to get to a safe place to recover. She has mastered multilevel recovery; sprint-break-sprint -break.
Be inspired by cheetahs. Work hard for a period to promote your nail business and keep in touch with clients, then give yourself a proper rest. If you work nonstop your productivity will drop, and your chance of burnout will dramatically increase.
Develop courage in the face of difficulties
During lockdown we need courage. It is relatively easy to manage in good times when your nail and beauty business is buoyant. However, it takes a certain kind of professional to deal with a crisis. What examples of courage in nature might inspire you?
In your artistic mind’s eye imagine an army of ants. Most ants can carry more than three times their own weight and can survive in water for weeks, if necessary, by forming a living raft.
The colourful hummingbird might appeal to you. They build nests in trees where hawks are nesting, confident that they can evade capture by their flying prowess. A dangerous, but courageous, strategy.
Acknowledge & deal with stress
You will be stressed, possibly without realising it, and a stress animal doesn’t always help itself. For example, a stressed sheep which gets stuck a wire fence will struggle against its rescuers. Logic and calmness disappear and what should be a relatively easy release becomes a battle of wills serving nobody.
We can get entangled in the metaphorical barbwire, and panic so much we simply can’t extract ourselves, even if we’re offered help. So, take a breath, learn to manage yourself, stop and think, pause, take another breath. Stay balanced.
Develop expertise in managing energy
In biological terms we are balls of vibrating energy. We need to be aware of our own personal energy and how to increase, preserve, nurture and protect it.
The best way to increase awareness is to observe nature. While we acknowledge how powerful the use of high energy can be, we must also recognise there are times when it is vital to use slow energy – to stop, reflect and regenerate our minds and bodies.
Covid-19 gives us a chance to stop, contemplate and engage with our energy in a different way.
Recognise whether, energetically, you are a fast or a slower person. Then consider how you can shift your energy just a little. Perhaps you need to slow down a tad and nurture yourself. Maybe you need a small nudge to use your energy to make a change. Picture the animal that will inspire you to move in the right direction.
I hope these ideas will help you keep positive. I have a feeling that nail professional will be in high demand after lockdown ends!