Karen Restivo
In Other Words....
Gardening is a waiting game.
Six weeks ago, decisions were made on what flowers and foliage would be planted again on the north side of our Matagorda home.
Our previous plantings fared
well, except for a half-dozen plants succumbing to the elements.
Ironically, heat was not the culprit; instead, it was the momentary lowering wind-chill factor that sealed the fate of our doomed plants.
With lessons learned, we confidently chose more of the same flowers that not only survived but thrived in the unpredictable Texas weather.
Observing growth pattern variables helps a gardener to discern the ideal placement of their selected plantings.
Philosophically, it’s been said that the mysteries of life are revealed to us through our interconnectedness with nature.
Parallels are discernible between the growth of plants and humans.
Both require a balance of nurture and nutrients to thrive.
Whatever elements continually accumulate throughout the growth process, will be recognized in the result.
When it comes to the nurture and growth of our mindset,
balancing the physical, mental and spiritual variables are key to
achieving a healthy, thriving garden outlook.
What we feed our mindset through those three variables will determine our peak
growth.
Author Ralph Lewis M.D. in his Psychology Today article “How Do We know What is Real,” highlights the struggle between one’s
perception, intuition and cold, hard facts.
Our mind is an abstract
concept representing thoughts, feelings, beliefs and experiences.
Lewis says, “The brain is a well-honed but imperfect virtual reality machine. You don’t have a brain. You are a brain.”
The mind is the product of brain activity and what thoughts you allow through your senses fertilize reality based on your perceptions and beliefs.
If you believe the world is beautiful, your mind will use the brain to show you evidence of that belief; however, if you sense the
world as untrustworthy, the mind will seek out evidence to confirm that belief.
Like plants, observing growth pattern variables assists in discerning the best path to a healthy, thriving mindset.
In other words, observe closely what thoughts or voices you allow through
your mind/brain barrier.
In essence, you are creating your outside world experience based on your own perceptions and beliefs.
As a mindful gardener, weed out the negative thoughts and beliefs that hamper your mindset’s exponential growth.
You reap what you sow.
Karenrestivo57@gmail.com