Regrowth

I am no botanist - just ask my sister's garden that I "planted" last summer (LOL). But I do know that when a plant's buds are dying, we trim the dead blooms to encourage regrowth and the vitality of the plant. This does not remove the inevitable/eventual death of the new growth, but it does create a path for the longevity and health of the plant. How does this concept apply to our stories? Maybe you've already arrived at my point: Life is hard AND it's also full of opportunity for regrowth. All kinds of obstacles threaten to block the path of progress toward our understanding of ourselves and ultimately our process of alignment. These can be everyday obstacles like a busy schedule, a child's tantrum in a grocery store, or daily financial constraints. The obstacles can also come in the form of existential crises like loss, mental health concerns, physical illness or injury, complications in a relationship, or any traumatic event. Remaining in touch with ourselves and aligned with our perspectives/purpose can understandably be very challenging, and especially when the above are compounded.

The dictionary definition of regrowth is "to continue growth after injury or interruption". How do we do this when there are near constant interruptions in our personal and professional lives, and in society at large? Well the keyword in the above is "continue". You see, we never stop growing! Regrowth can be thought of as the pruning away of the distractions, mess, chaos, confusion, and whatever blocks are keeping us stuck and withering. This is not so that we can avoid any further interruption, because of course we know that will never happen. We prune so that we can be revitalized, invigorated, and refreshed--ready to tackle the next challenge from a healthier/more rooted position. So whatever interruption is keeping you stuck in old narratives of "I should", "I can't", "I'll never get there", "I'm just not ______ enough", try to take a look at where those dead bits are hanging on for dear life just waiting to be released so that new perspective can grow. Acknowledge them for how they're trying to help you survive what you're going through. But after you've given them space, try adding something in that is the direct opposite to what you might normally do. A simple example: before you go on your phone to numb out, maybe get outside and breathe deeply for 5-10 seconds to reset your nervous system. See what you might choose after this. If it's still your phone, that's OK! Self gentleness is key here. But, by choosing simple actions that we add in, we can slowly trim at the withered bits and watch the process of regrowth unfold.

Stay Well, Friends!

Rebecca

Founder & Coach