Written by: Mindy Schrager, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever prepared for and planted a garden? Whether you have or not, consider the following ways in which tending a garden parallels other aspects of your life. When you take these core principles under consideration, would you say your “life garden” is growing in a way that creates a flourishing future?
1. Envision and Design
Whether you are creating your dream life or a colorful garden, you need to start with a vision. When you look at the future, what do you see, hear and feel? Do you have plants blooming at varying times, in different parts of the yard, and with a multitude of colors? Do you want plants that attract hummingbirds, butterflies, or bees? Do you want the same plants to rebloom every year, or do you want to add new colors on an annual basis? Would assistance from an expert, like a landscape architect be helpful or do you prefer to do it yourself?
The same goes for defining your personal vision. You need to make sure you clarify what aspect of your life needs your focused attention. To further focus your intention, include the various elements of the different representational systems (visual, auditory, and kinesthetic). For example, what will you be doing, what you will be seeing, who will you be with, and what are you hearing (both from yourself and others). Sometimes having a coach or trained facilitator can be a helpful resource to take you through a process that creates and shapes your vision.
2. Choices, Actions, and Planting the Seeds
Once the vision is complete, having either a rough sketch of it or a detailed plan from a landscape architect will serve as a baseline for moving forward. With the vision of your garden in mind, you can finalize your choices. Things to consider as part of implementing your garden design include the types of plants you want, the best time of year to plant them, where you can purchase them, and any assistance you need to bring the garden design to life successfully.
Similarly, when you look at the vision for your life, you need to decide on the goals you want to achieve along the path to your desired outcome. Then, break those goals down into smaller steps (your actions). Just like for your garden, the actions become the seeds you plant that will blossom. As you outline your actions, you will also need to decide when they will happen, what resources you need to make them happen, and if you need the support of a coach or another practitioner to support you in getting them done.
3. Nourish and Nurture
When the seeds and shrubs are planted, you need to nourish and nurture them as they grow and mature. Plants need to be watered. They may also need fertilizer or special plant foods. As they start to blossom, some plants need to be deadheaded to make room for new growth. Shrubs and trees need mulch to protect their roots, you may need fencing to protect them from animals, and pruning keeps them growing beyond their boundaries.
In your life, how can you nurture and nourish yourself and your vision? Consider ways to acknowledge the progress you make, creating positive momentum along the journey. Celebrating the milestones you achieve, acknowledging your successes (big and small), and practicing gratitude for the support you receive, are important ways to nurture your vision. Finding ways to honor yourself, practice self-care and set boundaries are elements in tending your inner garden.
4. Adjusting
As in life, sometimes our garden provides us with surprises. Maybe a plant we liked turns out to be invasive, or perhaps we planted something in an area that does not support its healthy growth. In my personal gardening experience, this happened when I hung pots of ferns in direct sun, grew large sunflowers in a small area, and planted a magnolia in the wrong soil. In these instances, a small adjustment was needed on my part. In other experiences, you may need a complete re-design.
As you work towards your life vision, you may find things don’t always work out as you plan. As with the landscaping plan for your outer world, your inner landscape design may need some small tweaks or sometimes a complete do-over.
Whether the vision you are designing is for your garden or your life, your choices and actions are the seeds that take root. They have the potential to blossom and flourish as long as they are fed and nurtured.
Gardening was one of the ways that I became more deeply aware of color. Whether it was planting complementary colors, ensuring plants bloomed at different times throughout the year, or considering the energy of particular colors. It was fun playing with possibilities and watching what happened next.
Colors are everywhere in nature and in life – in branding, alerts, candy, hair color, our language, and more. Color can change the feeling of a room, shift a mood, and feed your body and soul. For me, color is an essential part of tending one’s inner landscape. It is the inspiration behind why I created “Self-Care Through Color.”
Learn more about this color-filled transformational program here. Or start with my free guide, “3 Ways to Transform Your World with Color."
© 2023, Systems of Change, LLC
Mindy Schrager, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Mindy Schrager is an ICF PCC credentialed coach, Systemic Facilitator, Aura-Soma practitioner and founder of Systems of Change, LLC. Mindy’s focus on and passion for transformational work is built on years of experience creating strong, well-balanced teams, combined with a powerful personal discovery journey. Her experience and training have been focused on creating positive change in life and business experiences working with individuals and groups. Mindy loves to shine a light on hidden patterns and the root cause of dysfunction and then help create new pathways to growth.
