THREE REALLY EASY TIPS TO HELP YOU BLOOM WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED.
1. The children’s book character, Christopher Robin was very brilliant. Hear his words with your heart as well as your ears: “Always remember–you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think.” This may be all you have to remember to bloom where you are planted. Having a little faith in yourself and the heart knowledge that you can do it – whatever “it” is, this is the key.
Instead of fighting change imagine yourself opening your arms and embracing it. Blossom and bloom right in the middle of it. What joy could you discover by blooming right here. And, what if this place you’ve landed is better? Just remember you are braver than you believe.
2. Ask for help when you need it. Even if you’re at the bottom of the abyss – call out to the universe, the angels, the goddesses, God – whatever power/entity you believe in that is stronger than you.
Women in general don’t seem to know how to do this. At least the ones I know do not, myself included. Oh, I can do that, and that, and that and sure, just add that on to the top of the pile. Before we know it, we are underneath the pile of to do’s, not done yets, will get to it laters. What happens to what we want? I’ll just speak for myself but I am extremely skilled at not asking for helping, thinking I can and must do everything by myself. Who did I learn this from? My mother? My grandmother?
Or, is it something I made up along the way of living my life, working a job, being a wife, mother, sister, daughter of elderly parents, friend. Where along this road did I lose my voice, my knowingness that I am/we are not alone, my ability to raise my arm, my hand, my pinky finger and ask for help? The good news is with age comes wisdom!
Guess what? You are not alone and people WANT to help. The Angels, Universe, your friends, your son, your brother/sister, any higher powers want to help–you just need to ask. I am not perfect at this but I am wise enough to know I can learn. And I also know that I am not perfect and that’s okay. Remember that you are stronger than you seem. It is a show of strength to ask for help not a display of weakness. Show those ask muscles.
3. Practice wabi sabi which is the art of imperfection and impermanence. Life is not perfect, mother nature is not perfect and you do not have to be perfect (it says so in the very fine print at the back of the human being owner’s manual. Oh!? You didn’t get one of those. I think it’s out of print. I know mine has been on backorder for at least 20 years now–maybe more.)
Here is another story about impermanence – one day some people came to visit the Thai Buddhist meditation master and asked, “How can you be so happy in a world of such impermanence?” The master held up a glass and said, “Someone gave me this glass, and I really like it. This glass holds my water admirably and is glistens in the sunlight. I touch it and it rings! One day the wind may blow it off the shelf, or my elbow may knock it from the table. And I say, ‘Of course.’ When I understand that the glass is already broken, every moment with it is precious.” In the immortal words of Dr. Seuss, “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.”
Impermanence…breathe it in.
Exhale gratitude for who you are and what you have.
Now breathe in gratitude and exhale impermanence.
Now just breathe… The glass is already broken.
What does the word perfect mean to you, how might it feel to be imperfect? What do you know about impermanence? For more thoughts on all of this see additional blogs about wabi sabi. In the meantime please know that it is okay to forgive yourself, in this very moment, for not being perfect. You have forgiven so many others for their imperfections, why are you last in line or not even in the line? Again, Christopher Robin had it all going on when he said, “you are smarter than you think!”