Ways to tend to your garden of life

Just like in life, tending a garden brings with it losses and triumphs. Whether you have one or not, nurturing a garden is similar to nurturing your own life. Here are my observations on being a good "life" gardener: 

1. What you plant in your mind will harvest your tomorrow. I believe you are what you Eat & Drink, Wear and Think. What you think is the soil to your garden. Consider your thoughts. How do you talk to yourself? What are you saying? Would you say that to your best friend or child? What you think about you bring about. You get back what you are giving out. If you are planting  negative thoughts in the soil of your mind, then that is what you will harvest in your life.
2. Stop watering dead plants. My girlfriend Scarlett gave up growing lettuce because her garden gets too much sun and lettuce wouldn’t grow. This is a great life lesson! Stop pouring your focus and energy into things that are not going to grow anymore. Recognize when relationships or priorities are not healthy for you. Pull the weeds that weigh you down.
3. Find what brings you happiness in your garden. You will empower yourself by tending to your garden of life. What habits do you need to incorporate? Are there toxic habits and relationships in your life needing to be pruned. Focus on what brings you happiness and tend to more of that.
4. Ask yourself – “Is this the best use of my energy”. Energy is like a watering can with a limited amount of water. Every good thing requires hard work. You are the only one who can decide where to best use your energy on a daily basis.
5. The most beautiful things in life can be found between a rock and a hard place. You have to push through the dirt. We go about our daily business and suddenly “life” happens. Hardship, disappointments and struggles. That’s like more and more dirt piling on your head. We all have our struggles but need to remember - the bigger the trials the bigger the triumphs. Push through the dirt into the beautiful sunshine. Be the beauty for others to see.
6. Even small growth is be appreciated and celebrated. Scarlett is so excited when she sees her plants pushing through the dirt. She knows it’s the beginning of what is to come. How often do we overlook the progress we’ve made? Any growth is movement towards reaching your goals. Stop and celebrate all your wins – big or small.
7. Death completes the circle of life. Our society doesn’t talk much about death but it is something we will all experience. Plants go through their natural cycle of birth, life, death – repeat. Recently I attended a talk by Dr. Mary Neal. Her book To Heaven and Back explains her death and 30 minutes she spent in heaven. It was a beautiful story that brings me peace. Her point is that we all have a purpose to fulfill. Are you nurturing and watering your purpose?

Nothing thrives without consistent hard work and dedication. That includes your garden and your life.

My next Confident Woman Recipe Course begins June 6. For more information, please sign up for the waitlist. You reap what you sow. Allow confidence to grow in your garden. Have a beautiful day.