Protea Season

The protea flower is a symbol of transformation. It is “named after the Greek God Poseidon’s son, Proteus, who had a propensity for assuming new shapes or altering his appearance to avoid detection” (Flower Meaning).

Gardens are a metaphor for many aspects of life, particularly the mind and attitude. I’m sure you’ve heard:

Your mind is a garden

Your thoughts are the seeds

You can grow flowers

Or you can grow weeds

A sweet, sing-song-y expression that bears a substantial truth. In this season of my life, I’m reevaluating what kind of care, and plants, are sown in my garden. In the past my focus has been on the end result, making sure a beautiful array of colors and flowers could be seen from the garden gate. Never addressing the rocky soil, lack of water, or weeds working their way into every open space.

Gardening is beautiful in that you never have to settle for what you’ve grown in the past. The addition of bugs, companion plants, care, and sometimes a heavy dose of sh!t, all work to change the new season’s outcome.

I have spent the last year digging deep to my roots, and uncovering what I want out of my garden. While I love the beauty, colors, and smells of a garden brimming with dahlias, hydrangeas, tulips, and the like, my focus is no longer on the short-term, superficial highs of a bouquet, but a more authentic, gritty variety.

I want to discover contentment within, to produce my own sunshine, to emanate happiness, and stop wishing for someone else’s garden. To a degree I’ve attempted to sow these qualities in the past, only to be disappointed when they didn’t bear. I recognize the issue originated in my lack of rudimentary care and labor. I wanted the beauty, without the work. Looking for temporary fixes, mainly materialistic in nature, to fix the problem.

I am guilty of searching for external affirmation, comparing to others, taking things personally, and allowing someone else’s thoughts of me, dictate how I feel about myself. I’ve beat myself down and sabotaged my own garden by filling it with weeds. So often I have given sage advice to friends on the subject, without ever turning the trowel on myself.

Rather than beat myself up for the mistakes I’ve made, I’m trying to simply embrace the opportunity to transform. To grow more protea. Starting from the ground-up, and the inside-out.

In an effort to create an environment that every variety of confidence, happiness, kindness and love can grow, I’m putting a heightened focus on my mental-care and health. Like a garden, the more you know about your mind and what it needs, the more successful you are. Some of the concepts, actions, and changes I’ve made to support my mental-health and happiness are:

• A strong morning routine. I notice my day is dictated by my morning, and I can redirect my day by how I handle my morning. I love to start with a warm cup of coffee, simply because it makes me happy. Adding little bits of happiness to your day has a multiplier effect (kind of like an invasive good plant). I then spend a couple minutes journaling, scheduling my day, and setting myself up for success. I also try to read my devotional, to keep me grounded and started on a positive beat.
• Journaling in my Savor Life Planner. This planner is amazing. The focus of this planner is your next 90 days. Where do you want to be in 90 days, what simple steps can you take to get there, what inspires you, what seeds do you plant each day, what weeds to you pull. It is an accountability and goal setting tool.
• Physical challenges & group workout class. Exercise is critical for my emotional well-being and clearing my mind. It truly helps boost my mood. By setting and achieving new physical goals, I stay engaged and energized. My group workout class also holds me accountable because I know there are people that are expecting my participation, and it is an environment of laugher and encouragement (venting, too, as needed).
• A long-distance book club with one of my best friends. It encourages me to read (another little bit of happiness on any day – rain or shine), to think outside my box, and stay in touch with a dear friend. She consistently inspires me, and I love being able to share this little Book Club with her.
• Incorporating essential oils. Essence of Flower Child, but I believe, and have noticed, that they have mood-altering abilities and help with emotional balance. I am also fascinated by all the applications and things there are to learn.
• Changing my tune, literally, there’s power in your favorite, upbeat music. When I feel myself going dark or struggling, I turn up my favorite tunes and let myself enjoy the pick-me-up.
• Reaffirming my faith. Faith has always played a silent role in my life, but growing that presence and relationship helps to ground and guide me.
• Scheduling time with friends. It can feel ridiculous, I mean, really? Having to block out time in your calendar for friends? Realistically life is hectic these days. It ensures I get that time with friends that I crave, and it gives me something to look forward to. Not to mention I love a well-defined plan.
• Getting outside and having a “zen” spot. A little time spent outside, especially walking trails in the woods, refreshes and revitalizes my mood. It’s like my own personal reset button. I’m away from distractions, moving my body, and recognizing all of God’s simple little gifts.
• Yoga. While it is very challenging for me, I try to carve out some time to test and stretch my body and mind. I love the no judgement environment, and can feel myself physically let go. I walk away from yoga with my mood turned right-side up.
• Limited social media. Urgh. I love it and hate it. I get defeated when I start comparing myself to others, and comparison is a deeply engraved behavior. I’m working hard to fill in this furrow with confidence and self-contentment. Redirecting my thoughts and taking a step back to recognize what I am doing (and why), is helping to fill in this habit.
• Stopping negative thoughts and self-talk. Again, an unfortunate habit. It may sound silly, but searching Pinterest for positive thinking quotes/mantras floods my mind with where I want to be. The more I read these positive notes and guides, the closer I get to replication.
• Colorful foods. Mood is so deeply influenced by food, that I have tried to spend more time and money in this department. The more colorful and wholesome I eat, the better I feel and think.
• Recognizing I need rest, and being okay with taking it. I’m abandoning my schedule and strict regime more, and realizing I’m more successful and energized when I take care of myself. Often times, the things I’m straining myself to do are relatively trivial.
• Ditching perfection. Easier said than done for someone with my personality, but something I work on everyday. I hate looking back and seeing where I’ve gotten caught in the minute, inconsequential details, instead of enjoying the big picture.
• Letting go of control, and accepting help. Again, easier in theory than execution. But, that’s why you companion plants exist. They support, provide, and protect one another. I’m recognizing others are just as capable, and often times out-perform, what I could have done myself.

Some of these are simple, while others require more effort. But, you reap what you sow. I know starting with a healthy soil and mind, is the key to a flourishing flower garden. I’m going back to the basics, and planting more protea. I’m allowing myself to be inspired, and transform into my own unique wildflower. I want to one day stand tall on my own, confident, blooming, inciting happiness in others, full of color and sweet scents, and act as a resting spot for all bees and butterflies.

I hope you take the time to cultivate your garden. Enjoy every season, not just the pretty ones. Plant the protea and be true to you. Let me know your tips and tricks for a bountiful garden. Cheers.