Grounding Yourself With Plants - A Way to Nourish Your Spirit

There is no better feeling than to take off your shoes and feel the soft sand underneath your feet, or to feel the texture and scent of a beautiful flower. Our soul recognizes that it is only a small fraction of the universe and it is in constant need to reconnect with its whole. Nature surrounds us like a blanket and reminds us who we are and where we come from. If we listen very carefully, it will also let us know why we are here.

In many cultures, animals have played an important role in teaching us what lessons we are here to learn. Through dreams or rituals, the spirit of an animal reveals itself with the intention of guiding the person through a trying period in his life. The same way, plants are believed to have magical, as well as medicinal attributes, that we can all benefit from. Because they are visually less active than animals, they tend to go unnoticed. But if you pay close attention to your potted cactus, fern, or orchid, you will learn some valuable lessons.

• Even when you don't care about getting results, they will come. You can carelessly toss a seed on the sidewalk, and when the wind rises, it will eventually finds its way to the soil. A beautiful flower does not need to be planned. Just the same way that some of our biggest accomplishments come out of nowhere, without wishing for them to take place, or even imagining them as something we ever wanted. What appears small can grow to unimaginable heights. Our actions, although small, could very well have a big impact on the world and the people around us. Think before you act, and always be mindful of what you say and what you do. Words and thoughts have energy that its released out into the world the minute they are formed. Body language can sometimes be more hurtful than words. Be mindful not to judge others for their appearances. Try to treat everyone as if they were the seed of a sycamore tree, and they just might surpass their own expectations.
• To reach high goals you must have deep roots. Behind every great man and woman, there is a support team. It takes strength and courage to reach one's goals and the only way to achieve this is by understanding your place in the world, your strengths and weaknesses, your values and priorities. Whether you are religious or not, you must connect with your source of empowerment and build a strong foundation to build your dreams.
• There is a time to be fruitful and there is a time to rest. Finding the right balance is the key. If you wear yourself out, you will eventually end up getting weak and sick. If you rest too much you won't be as productive as you should. Listen to your body and your soul and be good to them. You, more than anyone, know when to take an extra day off from work to stay home sleeping, and when to do a double shift to cover that colleague of yours who called in sick. Don't be pressured into doing something for fear of being criticized. A tree that is overfertilized for fruit will not live a long life.
• When the time is right, there will be fruit. Every one of us is different and we all bloom when our inner clock is ready. Impatience will only fill you with angst and worries but it will not make you reach your goal any faster. Also, try to see yourself in the context of nature. Throughout the year, take notice of those days when you feel mostly inspired, and your creativity gives birth to wonderful ideas that seem to keep you awake at night. Write them down on a piece of paper and try to find patterns. There will be times when all you do is dream, plan, visualize, but somehow you are incapable of making a simple phone call to find out if your idea is even worth pursuing. And there will be times when your activity level is at its peak and you go the extra mile to make sure that your well-thought-out proposal doesn't sit for another month on your desk collecting dust.
• A little TLC makes a whole lot of difference. We all have needs that cannot be ignored. Give too much water to a plant and its roots will rot. Don't water it sufficiently and it will starve. Listen to your emotions and figure out what you need. Maybe you need a night out with your best friend so that you can vent about your problems at home. Maybe you need to go on a fieldtrip to the public library and read a chapter from a dozen books to forget that the world even exists. Think about the time you spend making other people happy and then ask yourself how much are you doing for you.
• When our work is done, it is time to give others a chance. Leave a good legacy of love and harmony among your friends and family. Teach your children to be better human beings than you ever were, and when your time is done, look back with joy at what you have achieved. And, who cares if you never got that post-graduate degree, or never had a chance to marry your true love? We don't need to live spectacular lives in order to feel that sense of fulfillment. What we take with us is the result of our own choices, and our own circumstances, and it will always be different than everyone else's ending. Think about all the novels and movies inspired on regular people living ordinary lives. There is always a magical moment to remember because what matters is not the outlandishness of the event, but the way it made you feel at that moment. No one can ever take that away from you.