I once had a client named Kaito* who came to our session already extremely discouraged.

He was in the middle of launching a new mobile game: an immersive experience designed to let users feel what it’s like to fly across landscapes like a bird. The concept was deeply personal, inspired by his own love of flight, but the launch wasn’t going as planned. User adoption was slow, and the pressure from his board was mounting to make a change.

For weeks, Kaito had been trying to work through the stress. He described to me in detail all the ways he was pushing himself. But then I caught a crucial detail:

“I’ve been distracted, honestly. I’ve been spending a lot of time in my garden,” Kaito said apologetically. “It’s the only place I feel okay.”

Then he quickly moved on, back to metrics, strategy, and what wasn’t working. And that moment almost slipped away from us.

The Resource We Overlook

In positive psychology, there’s a simple, profound idea: if you can help someone access their resources, you can help them access their resilience.

With this in mind, I asked Kaito to slow down for a moment. He was puzzled, but I prompted him to drop the topic of his game for a moment and instead tell me about his garden.

He began describing all of his crops: cucumbers, tomatoes, and strawberries. He spoke about how it feels to tend to something alive. As Kaito spoke, his posture visibly changed, and his breath deepened.

Then I asked him to complete a more unconventional visualization exercise. “Imagine the garden inside you,” I said. “As if it’s growing in your chest.”

He closed his eyes. Took a deeper breath.

When he opened them again, he seemed more like the original Kaito I had met years before: inspired, driven, and vibrant.

The Nature of Things

There is a growing body of research showing that time in nature reduces stress, improves mood, and enhances cognitive functioning.[i] The Japanese practice of “forest bathing” (immersing oneself in nature through the senses) has been linked to measurable benefits in both mental and physical health.[ii]

As Harvard professor of nutrition and epidemiology Heather Eliassen noted, exposure to green space has been linked to better sleep, lower blood pressure, and a reduced risk of chronic disease. She has also noted that time in nature has been connected to decreased risk of psychiatric disorders in both adults and children.[iii]

Anyone who has gone for an afternoon head-clearing walk probably could have guessed all this, but what people don’t realize is this: you don’t always need to physically be in nature to access its benefits.[iv]

Studies suggest that even imagining natural environments can calm the nervous system. Visualizing greenery, water, or open landscapes can reduce stress and increase feelings of well-being.[v]

By reconnecting with his experience of the garden, even just in his mind’s eye, Kaito was resourcing himself: drawing from a well inside him he didn’t even know he had. Then, from that more grounded state, he was able to return to his work with fresh insight.

From my interviews with spiritually intelligent individuals, many mentioned taking the time to experience nature and the beauty of the world around us. Whether outdoors in nature or simply pausing during the workday, these moments of appreciation seemed to restore their energy and produce newfound clarity.[vi]

Return to What Restores You

Most of us have a “garden”—a place, a memory, or an experience that rejuvenates us.

If you’re anything like Kaito, you might view this restorative place as a luxury, or even a distraction from “real” work. But in reality, it might be the secret ingredient to doing your very best work.

As I tell my clients, sustainable performance is about discipline, yes. But it’s also about knowing when (and how) to replenish ourselves.

Your Turn: Name What Nourishes You

Take a moment to reflect:

• Where do you naturally tend to go when you feel overwhelmed?
• What experiences leave you feeling more open, grounded, or alive?
• Can you bring one of those experiences to mind right now—fully, vividly?

Picture the setting you’ve settled on. Place yourself in it, fully imagining the details around you. Journal a few notes about how this feels, or even take a moment to sketch out a drawing.

Now, flip the visuals. Imagine the place inside of you—grounding you and resourcing you from within. Close your eyes if it helps. Take three deep breaths as the garden grows out of you.

Open your eyes. Do you feel any different? Is there more beauty available around you now? Perhaps an art piece on the wall, the scene outside your window, or the colorful plate of food on your table?

What feels possible now?

Over the next few days, practice pausing and taking in beauty, even in small microdoses. Notice the difference, and enjoy.

*Name changed