Our metaphorical field is planted by what we participate in. Our row of health is tended to by quality of exercise, nutrition, and sleep. For as many personality types, there are methods and ways of thriving in systems. Is work as meticulous as corn in a row? Or is it more fits and spurts of growth like berries in a forest? We tend to our lives in our own way and with our own style. The harvest we plant and the fruit we yield are our unique and boundless offerings in the world.
Define: Cultivar
A plant that is bred or selected by growers for its unique features. It has something a little different from the original species. What’s my feature that is unique to me? Is there a talent or value from long ago that is ready to emerge out of dormancy?
What are you scattering?
Sometimes life does not feel organized or orderly. It feels more like casting out seeds of love, intention, future steps in wild exuberant throws. Keep up the effort! Cast out the seed and know that the overall effect is what leaves an impact. It is the rows and furrows as well as the tangled edges of the margins. Are we casting compassion, kindness and joy? Witnessing goodness is a radical act that inspires the soul.
“We may scatter the seeds of courtesy and kindness about us at little expense. Some of them will fall on good ground, and grow up into benevolence in the minds of others, and all of them will bear fruit of happiness in the bosom whence they spring.” ― Jeremy Bentham
Coaching in the Garden
Annual Blooms: What is only to be grown this season? Satisfied with the effort and result? Need to change things up?
Bolting: Is there something premature sprouting under the “heat” of pressure? Is there pruning required?
Look around: Are you in your field? Did you wander off into someone else’s story and take it on as your own? What does your garden look like?
Elements: Are there elements of Earth, Air, Fire or Water that need attention? Feel around in this metaphor… Are your thoughts grounded or airy? Is there a burning that needs stoking or dousing? Is the comfort of Earth lulling your action? Do you need to change your pace?
“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” ― Ira Glass
Namaste,
Laura