The Self-Care Mindset

CHAPTER 16From Me to We

“We don't self‐care alone; it's how we work better together.”

Did you know that trees talk to each other? It may not be like the chatter in a room full of people. But trees have an underground relationship and scientists have learned that they connect, communicate, and collaborate through their root system to support each other's growth.

Just like culture, trees are an ecosystem. And even if we just see each of them individually, none of them exists on their own.

Neither do we.

Culture Is an Ecosystem

Culture is an ecosystem that exists whether or not we pay attention to it. It's the atmosphere. It's the undercurrent. It's the conversations. And we are all part of this ecosystem because it's built on the relationships among us.

Many people think of culture as the “designer environment,” and it was when it consisted of artisanal coffee and beer on tap. The ping‐pong tables and community areas created a fun culture, at least on the surface. In this sense, we could “see” culture, and it looked a lot like a physical place. But that all went away with COVID, and we had to pause and really learn what creates a healthy culture.

Culture isn't about the benefits, rewards, or perks; it's about the people and the relationships we have. For many people today, work is their community. Some even say, “We are like family.” However, I think of that as adding unconscious, though not deliberate, pressure on people because the roles that we have in our family are not ...