Of all the creatures on our wonderful planet, we humans  have the unique ability to contemplate and think deeply about our lives and circumstances.  We have the ability to ask ourselves questions like “why am I here?” or “how can I better myself or impact others in a positive way?”  We have opportunities to to share our failures and successes to better equip and encourage others when they are struggling.

To continue with our Springtime garden theme, I would like to share a beautiful analogy of planting and harvesting.  My husband often talks about the mind and the heart and the importance they play in our physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being.  He has shared many times that our minds are very fertile ground and that they will grow whatever is planted there.

The process I am continuing to work through– learning technology and social media has truly stretched me out of my comfort zone… see  “Chaos” for some background here.  This desire of wanting to stay in our “comfort zones” can slow us down or even prevent us from pushing through and striving for change in many areas, but especially in the areas of diet, exercise, recreation and inspiration.  These are the areas that can have a large impact of our overall health.

Let’s just click out of that, and start over

The same dear friend (Janice Nastav) that I wrote about in “Chaos” has given me the inspiration for this post.  She has been patiently talking me through steps over the phone of what others may understand as basic website and computer skills.  Whenever I am confused or unable to complete whatever she is trying to teach me, she will gently say, “Let’s just click out of that, and start over.”  There are times I just want to give up, or shut down for the day and try again later.  She encourages me to stick with it and continue again and again until I master the task at hand.

Worry is a weed

I giggle now every time I catch myself going to a place in my mind with my own thoughts that are negative and I apply the gentle words, “Let’s just click out of that, and start over”.  I am becoming more and more aware of when I am filled with worry or anxiety.  I can physically feel how that changes my stress level or  creates a sense of being overwhelmed.  I can use this garden analogy and understand that I have the ability to see that as a “weed” in my mind and know that I have the ability to pull that “weed”. 

A seed is a start-over

I can literally just “click out of that, and start over”.   I can replant new seeds and fertilize them with thankfulness and gratitude; hope, faith and encouragement.  This may be a cute anecdotal story, but is there any real scientific research to back up this truth and the impact it has on our health?  Yes there is.

Dr. Caroline Leaf (yes, ‘Leaf’) is a cognitive neuroscientist with a PhD in Communication Pathology specializing in Neuropsychology. Since the early 1980’s she has studied and researched the Mind-Brain connection.  She has written several wonderful books as well as many you tube videos on how negative thoughts can actually be toxic how it is possible to remove them.  Our thoughts have a very real impact on our physical health.

This also relates well to our post The Garden of Our Gut  which deals specifically with the Brain-Gut connection.

I will continue to check in and expound on all of our Garden themes through this growing season and into harvest time.  Now is the time for planting.  Choose your seeds well and diligently pull those weeds.