The Magic of Your Environment and What It Does for Your Soul

I just got back from Maloolaba, QLD — and honestly, I don’t think words will ever fully capture the magic I felt standing there on the sand.

The beach stretched out endlessly, the waves crashed onto the rocks and sand, and the sky was like a painting - it didn’t seem real. I stood there feeling completely, beautifully small. Not in a way that made me feel insignificant, but in a way that reminded me I’m part of something so much bigger than my to-do list, my worries, or the opinions that weigh me down.

It made me realize: our environment holds power. Not just in the way it looks, but in how it makes us feel.

We spend so much time in spaces that drain us — rooms filled with noise, screens, clutter, and pressure. But when you step into a space that’s alive with beauty, quiet, or nature, something shifts. Your shoulders drop. Your breath slows. Your mind softens.

That moment on the beach reminded me to seek out more of that. More wonder. More stillness. More places that make me feel awe — and less time wrapped up in things that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things.

And the good news is: you don’t need a beach to feel that shift. Try these small things when life feels heavy:

• Open a window and let the breeze move through the room.

• Play calming music or ocean sounds.

• Light a candle or burn some incense.

• Clear one small space — your bedside table, your kitchen bench — and notice how different it feels.

• Get your bare feet on the grass, or lie in the sun for five minutes (my favourite things to do).

These tiny changes in your environment can create huge changes in your nervous system. We’re not meant to be switched on all the time — and our surroundings can either keep us in overdrive, or invite us to slow down.

The world is full of magic. Let’s not forget to feel it.