About two years ago one of my students gave me two small plants to spruce up my office. Each had been planted in a large plastic cup. During the year that followed I did my best to make sure they got some sunshine and a bit of water every week (though I cannot claim I spoke to them alot). They seemed to be thriving and growing just fine that first year and then suddenly began showing signs of suffering.
Not wanting to be a lousy steward of these life forms, I became more diligent at checking on their needs for water and sun - but to no avail.
Fortunately for them, Jayne happened to be on campus around this time and stopped by my office for a surprise visit. While there she noticed the sorry state of my two plants and told me to bring them home. I did so, and since she seemed to have a clear idea of what they needed, forthrightly turned them over to her care.
“They’re root bound,” she informed me at dinner that evening. “They simply need a larger pot, more space, so that they can continue to grow and thrive.” And, of course, she was right. In much larger pots both plants are now back in my office and ten times larger than their original size.
I believe the same principle applies to us. In order to thrive and expand into our next level of potential, we just might need to open up some space in our lives.
What would a larger pot look like for you?
Doing less by finding the courage to gracefully decline many of the invitations that come your way?
Shifting where you live?
Cutting your screen time in half?
Changing your job?
Taking on a hobby that has been calling for years?
Gently letting an unhealthy relationship go?
Shedding a negative belief about yourself, your partner, or your situation?
Ditching your phone during exercise?
Altering your diet?
Adjusting your saving and/or spending habits?
Take some time to ponder how you’d like to grow next. Assess what that will ask of you. Then consider how a change in your physical or mental environment can clear the space (aka time and energy) you'll need in order to give yourself the requisite growing room.
After all, from what I’ve seen with plants and in my life, staying rootbound is a fantastic plan for suffering.
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