The Soul of A Garden

It’s been an interesting few weeks.  ”Full tilt” as they say.

My house has been “spring cleaned,” my deck looks like a paradise, and I’ve been gardening for the first time in my life.

Deliberately planting, nurturing and pruning flowers, bushes, and tree’s in my yard.  I feel like I understand this practice of gardening- it’s such a lovely experience to watch an “intention” grow to fruition.

Another metaphor in my life- yes?

I am noticing all kinds of positive shifts in my life now, and I think they are happening finally because of all the “digging” i’ve been doing these past few years.  For every turn there is a season, and yada yada – I know I know… so queer, and yet, that is where I am.  Finally smelling the flowers. Finally planting the seed’s for tomorrow’s garden. Finally pruning and dead heading the stuff that is no longer serving me.

Other shifts include other women of course:  working with some amazing career women, coaching them toward brand identify.  I love this work so much because it gives me great joy to lead others toward discovery.  I love the process when they arrive at their own answers and see their own vision, and gain clarity and confidence and strength. Have I mentioned how much I love working with women? Amazing creatures we are. We are so very gifted as a species- yes?  Our innate wisdom, ability to create, multi-task, gather, share, and inspire others is an ability we all hold as women.  It’s about finding the places that “stop us” from living our most authentic self.  In life and in business.

Although I have not been writing much, I’ve sure been observing and thinking a lot.

The project (always) stretches me to look at things differently and for each woman who participates she gives me a new way of looking at things.  She brings me perspective, insights, and courage.  I see each one of the women who put themselves into this work as partners  in discovery.  They teach me so very much about how valuable it is to step outside of our comfort zone to explore things not yet known to ourselves.  Their willingness to be open, vulnerable, and exposed to the audience we have cultivated is beyond inspiring and I know that each one of them has made a positive difference in the lives of many others who have touched them through the context of this project.

Perhaps my interest in gardening now comes from wanting to keep bringing beauty into my world – I see that it’s possible.  I see that when you intentionally partner with others to create something wonderful, that almost anything can happen.

Each aspect of our lives as women needs care and watering.  Is there an area of your life that you need to stop ignoring and start to make a tiny change?  Is there an un-cultivated garden somewhere in your yard, your business, your soul?

I hope you’ll join us when the time is right for you.  xo

 

 

Spring Cleaning for The Heart

When you forgive, you heal your own anger and hurt and are able to let love lead again. It’s like spring cleaning for your heart. – Marci Shimoff.

Why is it so difficult to forgive someone?  I’ve often asked myself this question when I’ve labored over feelings of anger for way longer than anyone “should”.  Over time though- I start to realize that I am the one who is actually suffering by hanging on to the emotion.
Like all negative emotions – they may serve you for a short time- but then they should really get cleared out.

Anger is tough- we feel mis-treated, misunderstood, and perhaps invalidated. It can create a soul fever in our heart that need’s to run it’s course.  It’s important that we let it run, just as you might allow a child’s fever burn so that the body can fight the infection. Feeling the stages of anger might be much more useful than trying to numb them or suppress them.

Over time – one might pray for freedom from this anger so that it lessons, and we can heal- bit by bit.  During this time it’s important to just offer yourself compassion and patience. Sounds funny but really- is it going to make it any better if you feel like you should feel different by now?  If we just let the emotion “be” what it needs to be inside of us – we can use it for reflection.

* Does this anger feel familiar?

* Are there other places in my life that remind me of this type of event?

* Am I being kind to myself while I am feeling this way?

It’s important to remember that as much as we would deeply desire for the other person to change, or apologize, or validate our feelings that we can not control another’s actions or experience.  Only ours. ( I hate that.)

Ultimately- the biggest gift you can give YOURSELF is to forgive.  When you forgive- it does not necessarily about giving something to the other – but more- that you are giving to yourself.  You give your heart permission to expand again… permission to love again, trust again, laugh again.

It’s spring- and old resentments and wounds eventually pile up like enormous tumble weeds in the spirit.  If you can let go… and ask forgiveness to visit, you may be able to experience a lightness of being you have not felt in a while.

Breath it in…

Happy Spring.