Weeding Your Mental Garden
Photo by Martha Lynn, taken in her yard.
As we approach the summer solstice on June 21st, I am waking up earlier as the light filters into my bedroom windows in the morning. I’m spending more time outside in the evenings as the sun refuses to sleepThe longest day of the year will soon be here, and then we begin the trek toward the shortest day once again. The Earth’s position has a profound impact on our internal clocks and daily rhythms. In the winter, with shorter days, we are invited to go inward, slow down, and reflect. The summer season offers vitality, activity, and movement.
Over the past month, my husband and I have been busy spending time in our yard and patio, planting, cleaning, and preparing for living outside more. I love the sounds and smells of summer as everything around me is blooming, buzzing, and chirping. The season itself feels vibrant and alive.
We have been fortunate enough to have rain, and everything is green and vibrant. However, what comes with rain and sunshine is a plethora of weeds. So, I set out to weed last weekend.
As I moved slowly through the weeds, I realized how much weeding mirrors the work we do within ourselves.
Some of the weeds had blooms on them and were actually pretty. Some of the weeds were light and delicate and hard to pull out by the roots before they broke off at the surface. Those little guys will be coming back soon. Some of the weeds had deep, established roots that took some tugging and pulling to remove completely. In the end, I had a pile of plants that no longer belonged. The beds looked more spacious, and the plants that were intentionally planted there had more breathing room to grow and blossom.
I related the weeds in my yard to the weeds in my head. Like the pretty weeds, I may ruminate on certain behaviors or ideas because I think they make me look good, but ultimately, they don’t serve me. These are often the “shoulds” I carry because they meet other people’s expectations rather than my own needs. These are the dangerous mental weeds because they are dressed up and can seem appealing and appeasing. It was literally hard to pull these weeds because of their perceived beauty.
The weeds in my mind that break off at the surface are the ideas that I haven’t fully let go of yet. These thoughts invite curiosity:
How can I think about this differently?
What would it look like to consider another possibility?
How might I see this from another perspective?
I’m going to keep the root intact until I have time to reframe or release the thought or behavior entirely. This is where we update our system to match how we are growing now. I have the option to go back and pull this weed from its root when I’m ready.
And finally, the greatest release was removing weeds completely from their roots. The experience was like taking a deep breath and feeling freedom and space. The finality of releasing the plant from the ground was cathartic. When we are bold enough to let go of thoughts, behaviors, and actions that no longer serve us, we have created an opening for growth, vitality, and balance. The other plants were no longer competing with the weeds to receive nutrients from the soil. It’s the same for our minds. When we fully release the chatter in our heads, we have an opportunity to blossom. Our body, mind, and soul are nourished. We become a reflection of the beautiful flowers, trees, and plants that grow vibrantly throughout this season.
When we tend our mental gardens, we have access to clarity. This clarity can support us in our work, our vision, and how we strategize meeting our obstacles and objectives. It also creates more availability for supporting others because we have the bandwidth to hold space for them.
Summer reminds us that growth isn't only about what we cultivate—it's also about what we're willing to release.
Are you weeding your mental garden?
Living in my vibrance,
Martha Lynn
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