Tend To Your Inner Garden

Many of us have a hard time slowing down; and though we were forced in many respects to pause on a number of things over the last couple of years, we seem to have quickly forgotten the benefits of tending to ourselves, our inner garden.

Let’s be honest, we need to feel busy in order to feel like we’ve accomplished something. Oftentimes, slowing down requires us to sit in silence, and that can be quite disconcerting. It may highlight our discomfort. We tend to push back on discomfort because it’s uncomfortable. But discomfort is an opportunity for growth. It’s like failure. Without failure, there is no learning. Without discomfort, there wouldn’t be any progression. Discomfort is natural.

So how does one exactly sit with discomfort? Sometimes it’s about meditating or walking in the forest and utilizing our five senses to deeply appreciate nature and stillness. Other times, it’s about simply sitting in silence and recognizing those itchy thoughts and feelings without getting attached to them, judging them; we acknowledge them, and then let them go. We give ourselves permission to just be. Maybe it’s practicing martial arts. For others, who practice yoga, it’s engaging in yin or restorative practices. These require yogis to hold poses for much longer than a Vinyasa or Hatha practice. It’s normal to hear people sighing or giggling during these practices because they are uncomfortable holding an asana for that amount of time and staying within themselves, with their monkey minds hard at work. However, whether it is yoga, forest bathing, martial arts or meditation, or simply being silent and still, the ability to be uncomfortable, turning into the self, brings benefits such as increasing flexibility, reducing stress, encouraging relaxation, improving sleep and being in the present moment. Focussing on the breath helps. In for four, hold, out for four…

The truth is, sometimes we just need to get our blood pumping. Sometimes, a good old run, kickboxing routine or weight lifting is what we need to calm our inner selves.

Whatever it is that works, switch it up and try different ways of being with discomfort. It will give you more ways to handle challenges (and truly recognize daily gifts) and it will support your physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Tend to your inner garden. And see what blooms.