William Abby once said, “Wilderness is not a luxury, but a necessity of the human spirit.”

I have spent a good portion of my life in the great outdoors, and have similarly found that nature provides great riches beyond the lumber and resources that can be harvested there for the benefit of city life.

I have written two books in the chaparral of Southern California, inspired by the forces of nature present there. I consult with nature almost daily—not only to support my writing, but to deepen my awareness of the life systems of which I am a part. Communing with nature allows me to gain deep insights about life and the challenges or problems that I face at any given moment.

If you think about it, most of the problems that we face are similar to problems that other species must adapt to. Like us, plants and animals gather energy and nourishment. They strive to be healthy. They rely on one another.

When facing a problem, it can be quite powerful to get out into nature with the intent of observing how others species and natural forces adapt to or resolve similar issues. The more wild the setting, the more powerful the results.

Today, for example, in trying to figure out how to get my new business off the ground, my attention was drawn to a bee as it traveled from flower to flower. I noticed that the bee sought only the most bountiful flowers. It pollinated those flowers that had offerings of rich necter.

In observing this phenomenon, it occurred to me that several of the markets I have been targeting are made up of people who want something for nothing. As such, these markets are not bountiful. What if I focus some of my efforts on helping people recognize that as in nature, giving and receiving are integrally connected? To take without return is to decimate your own source or nourishment. To give as you take is to establish yourself as bountiful—true in the natural world as it is in society.

In this nugget of wilderness wisdom, I was reminded that the best solution to a problem tends to be mutually beneficial.