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What if the thing that was missing in your career was a walk in the woods?

Lori Ann VanTol is the creator behind Forces of Nature and in today’s episode, she shares how, during the upheaval of COVID, she rediscovered a connection to the natural world that reignited her creativity, restored her sense of self, and ultimately showed her that fulfillment at work doesn’t always require walking away from it.

This one is for anyone who’s been feeling like something is… off. Grab your headphones and maybe take this one outside 🌳

Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode

You don’t always need to overhaul your career to feel more fulfilled. Sometimes you just need to pay attention to what brings you back to life—and give yourself a little more of that.

+ Nature has a way of bringing you back to yourself.
When Lori Ann started spending real, intentional time outdoors, something shifted. The writing she had abandoned started flowing again. Ideas she’d pushed aside started surfacing. It wasn’t forced — it just came through when she finally got quiet enough to let it. That’s the thing about nature: it gives you the space to hear what’s actually going on inside you.

+ You don’t have to blow up your career to feel better in it.
Lori Ann still has her W-2 job and Forces of Nature lives alongside it. Her title or her industry didn’t change, it’s what she is doing to nourish herself outside of work. When you have something creative and soul-filling running in parallel, it changes everything about how you show up day to day. It doesn’t have to be either/or.

+ Micro moments are available to all of us.
You don’t need a week in Hawaii or a cabin in the redwoods to feel this. Lori Ann calls them micro moments—lying in the grass for five minutes, smelling a rose bush on your morning walk, really listening to the birds, stepping outside between meetings to feel the sun on your face. These little pauses are where the reconnection begins. Start small, it adds up.

Connect with Lori Ann:
🤝 Lori Ann on the web: Instagram | Website

Resources Mentioned in This Episode
+ Workshop in the Forest: Find more information here
+ Read: The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
+ Read: Animal Speak by Ted Andrews

Lori Ann’s Flourishing Fave:
The Art of Innovation by Tom Kelley
Wabi Sabi: Discover the Perfectly Imperfect Path to Mindfulness, Simple Daily Practices, and Lasting Peace in a Stress-Free Life by Takagi Myakano 

🌟 The Flourish Careers Podcast is proudly highlighted in the Top Career Podcast Guide

Ways to work with me:
+ Join Fried to Flourishing, the self-paced career change course or virtual coaching experience.
+ You’re invited to the Gathering Ground, an insider circle where careers take root, grow, and flourish.
+ Browse around the shop and check out the playbooks: Make The Leap, Ultimate Playbook for Heart-Based Career Change | The Complete Interview Prep Playbook | Jumpstart Your Job Search, Gift for Grads

5 Minutes to Flourish

You’ve Got To Nourish To Flourish!

Five minutes a day to a healthier, happier, and more well-rounded you.
That’s all it takes. Your family, your friends, and your colleagues will love you for it.
You will love you for it!

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Want more career wisdom? Check out these podcast episodes/blog posts!

+ Signs, Serendipity + the Courage to Create with Jenny Blake and Sarah Young
+ Fresh Starts are In Season
+ Why Careers Move in Seasons

For more insider stories, quick tips, and #CareerTalk, I invite you to connect with me on Instagram @flourish.careers.

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