Planting Seeds of Healing: How Nature Can Guide Us in Our Healing Journey
Nature is amazingly intricate, much like us, with components that exude peace and calmness, while others can be unpredictable and transformation. As we explore the commonalities between gardening and personal healing, we will identify how nurturing our personal gardens can lead us to growth and freedom. Let’s grab our gloves and tools to begin our beautiful gardens.
Step 1: Planting Seeds with Intention
Just as a gardener chooses which seeds to plant for their gardens, we must clarify our personal goals and aspirations. Plants are unique and can have different requirements to be nourished. As you are beginning your personal garden, reflect on what you want to cultivate in your life, whether it’s meaningful relationships, self-love, or emotional freedom. Knowing what plants, you desire in your garden will guide you in creating your personalized growth plans.
Reflection: What does a life that is fulfilling and meaningful look like to you? What do you want your life to look like?
Step 2: Preparing Your Soil
Before we begin planting, we must prepare our soil by removing the obstacles and debris that could become a barrier for our plants to grow. In our healing journey, this means acknowledging and addressing our past wounds, traumas, negative beliefs, or unhealthy patterns. This process can be daunting and overwhelming. You may have tried this step multiple times and that’s okay! Progress over perfection. Take time to reflect and journal on what could keep your plants from growing. Most importantly, approach this with compassion. When compassion speaks, it’s understanding, accepting and forgiving. When shame speaks, it’s harsh, lonely, and unhelpful.
Reflection: What patterns do you notice in your relationships (platonic and romantic) and how you view yourself? Identify the unhelpful beliefs that show up, such as “I am not good enough”, “I can’t trust myself”, “I can’t succeed”, etc. Where do these beliefs come from?
Step 3: Nourish Your Garden
As each plants requires unique care, so do our emotional needs. Discover what nourishes your spirit that leads you to your desired goals as clarified in the first step. It could be supportive friendships, connection with creativity and self-expression, mindfulness practices, and more. Notice what is helping your plant grow and continue to lean into what feels meaningful and nourishing.
Reflection: What activities or spaces do I feel full, grounded, and connected? What do I feel inspired by?
Step 4: Tending with Care
Healing is an ongoing, lifelong process that needs consistent attention. We are always changing and evolving either in ourselves or our worlds. Maybe we’ve grown too large for the pots we once were able to fit into or learn to grow in harmony with other plants. Continue to monitor your progress, adjust your care as needed, and celebrate every victory along the way. Setbacks are part of the growth, just as plants may face unwelcomed pests or harsh weather.
Reflection: How will I continue nurturing my personal growth, even when progress feels slow or uncertain? Are there any adjustments I need to make that align with my growth process and goals? What challenges have arisen during my journey, and how can I learn and adapt to them?
Final Thoughts
In wrapping up this guide, it’s important to say that although healing is a tough journey, it is worth it, and you are deserving to experience it. Healing takes lots of patience, dedication, and love. Embrace your journey and you’ll blossom into a more resilient version of yourself. So, plant your seeds, tend your garden, and watch the beauty of nature flourish.