Letting go of the ballast.
As we approach the spring season, a time of new life, hopes, and feelings, it’s an ideal moment to reflect on growth.
Growth often involves letting go of the old and unnecessary. Let's explore how we can prepare ourselves and create the right environment to nurture new beginnings.
Sometimes, to see possibilities in our lives and be open to new experiences, we need to create space for them. It's like preparing the soil for planting. Trying to plant something new without removing old crops can be challenging. You may try to plant a new sprout 🌱, but will it have enough space, light, and nutrients?
I invite you to give yourself the gift of reflecting on what no longer serves you in your day-to-day life:
The Season
Think about the timing for your new sprout. Is it a good season in your life to plant it?
The Place
If the timing is right, what about the location? Is the area windy, too dry, or too moist? Is there anything blocking the light essential for growth?
If you feel resistance (external or internal) when starting something new, it is an important sign to pay attention to. Observe, analyze, and examine it from different perspectives. Resistance is often a barrier to change. It may take some time and effort to identify if the chosen path is the one you need. Having a coaching conversation could provide the necessary awareness.
Environment
The people who surround you have a significant impact on who you are. Make a list of at least six people with whom you spend most of your time. Reflect on how you feel around each of them, before, during, and after interactions.
Do you notice any patterns you'd like to keep or change?
Would you want to strengthen connections with some of them and communicate more often, or lessen interactions with others? If some relationships are toxic, consider ending them completely.
Place Where You Live
Reflect on your immediate lodging, your city, country, and so on. What would you like to keep or change?
What can you change, and when?
Decluttering physical spaces can lead to a clearer mind and more organized life, making room for new opportunities.
Conditions
What gives you energy?
Consider your basic needs, such as sleep, food, and shelter, as well as your unique needs, like enjoying or creating art, self-expression, socializing, or knowing that you serve something bigger. If you don't know what your unique needs are, experiment and see what captures your attention. This will help you understand yourself better on a deeper level.
What drains your energy?
Resources like air, water, and sun are essential for growth, but excess can be damaging. Different plants require different conditions to flourish, and everyone is unique. Compare yourself to your best moments, not someone else. We all live in an excess of information. Ask yourself what is important to focus on long term and what you can let go of. What can be simplified or optimized?
The Care
Reflect on your habits. We all have only 24 hours in a day. What you choose to focus on creates your reality. Some habits hold us back. For example, spending 30 minutes per day on reels adds up to almost three hours per week and almost a week per year!
How does this serve you long term?
What self-care routines would nurture you?
Consider physical activities like exercise, mental activities like reading or puzzles, and emotional activities like spending time with loved ones. Find what works for you.
Support Systems
To grow high, many sprouts require a support system. Which one do you have? Friends, family, and professional networks can provide encouragement, advice, and assistance during times of change.
Our brain focuses better on what is important when we have a bigger picture of our life in mind. Read more about it here.
What brings distractions to your longer-term vision? What can you do about it?
Some habits, rituals, and tasks may still be necessary but not enjoyable. How can they be outsourced?
Sometimes we get attached to certain things. To cultivate mindfulness, you may want to try journaling to have a dialogue with yourself and understand what’s happening inside of you in those moments. It is also a way to experience gratitude for what you have. Deep breathing exercises and mindful walking can help you stay grounded and aware of your thoughts and feelings. Other self-knowledge methods, like yoga or meditation, can also be helpful.
We are not always ready to see things as they are. It’s good to have someone you trust to help you eliminate the unnecessary from your life. Coaching can be a wonderful way to go beyond your current thinking. Contact me for more details.
I hope this reading has been a thought provoking and that it plants a seed of positive change for your better future!