Today’s Gem: Which seed are you watering?

Last night, even after a lovely yoga practice, I was irritated about something.  I was frustrated with my husband, Brian.  As hard as that is to believe because he is such a gem of a human being (!), this is how it goes in marriage some times, right?!  This hurt, this default mode of thinking, is one I’m familiar with.  As I laid there in bed, I looked over at the plants by our bedroom window.  I remembered that it was March 1.  I breathed into the promise of spring, even though the ground is covered in ice and snow.  And I thought about how our minds are like gardens:

What seeds (thoughts) do we select to plant there?  What thoughts do we give attention/food to again and again?  What thoughts will take root there?  Which thoughts will grow toxic situations and which ones will blossom healthy interactions?

So  I said to myself,
“Ok, Lisa, which seed are you going to water?  The seed of irritation (blame, hurt, etc) OR the seed of compassion?  Which thoughts do you want taking root in you?  Do I want to create a breeding ground for toxins or a blossoming, lush garden of compassion?  Today, I’ll water the seed of compassion.”

Today, I’ll choose to listen.  I’ll choose to be alongside.  I’ll choose to see my beloved and the beauty within him.  Today I’ll water the seeds of kindness by turning toward him.  Today I’ll plant seeds of deep regard that I know will bloom into radiant abundance – between us, for us, and our family and world.

Dear readers,

Today we can plant seeds of kindness in our minds and hearts…when you say kind things to yourself as you look in the mirror, as you gently encourage yourself to get up and exercise or put energy into that dream of yours.

Today we can plant seeds of deep love in the ways we look at our dear ones…when we take the time to pause and really look at them, with a wide smile on our faces, saying, “I so love you!”

Today we can water seeds of regard in the ways we treat each other…when we take the time to slow down and listen to the stories our little ones our sharing, the “reaching out” our teens are doing without those words, and the needs of our partners that are there in their eyes and between words.

Today we can water seeds of connection...when we reach out with arms of love instead of pulling away in hurt.

Today, yes, today we can choose what seeds to plant, water, and watch take root…in our minds, hearts, homes, and relationships.

Today, let’s plant seeds of compassion.

Because the seeds we plant, the seeds we water, the seeds we tend to are the ones that bloom.  Everything begins with just one little seed – one little intention…to begin again, to choose compassion, to reach out instead of closing off, to turn toward.  Plant this seed today – in your heart, in your morning, in your week, in your interactions with others.  It’s possible to grow beautiful, lush gardens of compassion in our homes and world.  It begins with one seed, regular watering, and kind “tending to.”  It’s not easy.  We may not see the immediate “blooming” of our seeds, but this is when we are called to put faith in the promise of spring.

** Dear Ones, find poetic messages that inspire you to plant seeds of compassion every day when you look down at your wrist with my poetic wrist wraps.  Give a message of compassion to one of your dear ones – reminding them, too, to plant seeds of compassion in the ways they see and talk to themselves AND how they love this world.

** Maybe you also feel it’s time to tend to what’s within you, to find that space of compassion again – for your own self to flourish and for your dear ones.  This spring, consider Compassion Coaching as a deep, healing support for nourishing you to flourish.