Planting Seeds of Self-Care
Written by Meg Collier of Rising Together Coaching
Living in the “Happy Valley” can seem really gray in the doldrums of February, when everything feels like another shade of gray. After the fallout of holidays, new year hype, and feeling like we are in a never-ending pandemic—when it comes to thinking about spring, for me, It often feels like searching for light in a really dark tunnel.
What if we apply the same cycles and rituals celebrated in the changing of seasons to other life experiences?
As we gain a bit more daylight each day, inching closer to spring, I’m delighted to share some February reflection questions to help you decide which seeds you wish to plant in your life to be able to harvest the rewards in the coming months.
Ready to do the February Self-Check In? Let’s go!
Question 1: How do I want to feel in the coming months?
Consider answering this question first with words that are genuinely FEELINGS. I often find when I ask others this question, they jump right to the manifested outcome, even when simply being asked how they want to feel on the way to said outcome. By planting a seed of intention about how one wants to feel while they do or create whatever it is they are creating, I believe they are getting closer to clarity on what will make them feel good, and making choices from that place of clarity.
Question 2: With how I want to feel in mind, what is one activity/choice which might usher in MORE of this emotional experience?
For example, if I want to feel more at ease in my life, choosing to pile my plate with more commitments will not necessitate this emotional experience. However, choosing to make a commitment to not taking on any more activities might be the choice to create the desired feeling. Sometimes action can look like simply choosing to say, “No, thank you.” to more.
Question 3: What habits/practices/learnings need to be pursued to create the alchemy for this intention to grow?
This is where the seed of intention hits the soil for growth. Consider making a list of any habits, practices, and learning that needs to be explored and implemented to make your activity/choice stated above come to life. This might include people to network with, small action steps that will help your vision start to materialize or even taking a class or watching a youtube video to learn more about a specific area. You can access a habit tracker template here to help you on your way.
Question 4: Now that the seed is planted, and I’ve lined up some action items to nurture my intention, what support systems and/or structures for accountability need to be considered to assure I move closer to feeling the way I want to feel and take purposeful action?
As a neurodivergent person, following through isn’t my forte. So having structures in place to follow up with and support to fall back on has been so helpful to me over the years. There’s no shame in setting up support systems for yourself. Even scheduling time to co-work on your hardest tasks with a pal can be helpful.
Remember: all growth takes time.
As you start tilling the soil and planting your seeds of intention I encourage you to continue to be gentle with yourself. Remember, all growth takes time and we can’t harvest a crop until it’s yielded its bounty. Patience can be tested in the days waiting for the results of our work and intention to come to fruition. I like to remind myself that the reward is often in the journey rather than the destination, getting back to why it’s so important to know how you want to feel in the months to come.
Wishing you each blessings of the approaching Spring!
Author Bio: Meg Collier
Meg Collier (she/her) is a Light Summoner and Coach on a mission to help people shine brighter in their lives, self-employment, and creative pursuits. When she isn’t coaching clients virtually online, you can find Meg involved in multimedia arts including painting, sewing, and needle felting. You can learn more about Meg here.