Introduction to Mindgardening

Self-improvement can be daunting because it takes work. Scratch that, it takes A LOT of work. Working on ourselves can be an uncomfortable and painful process, and sometimes it feels easier to put what we need to do within ourselves on the back burner until we implode, causing EVEN MORE pain and discomfort. However, there is another approach that may seem a bit trivial, but it works! It also brings a level of gentleness and grace to self-improvement that can be relieving. Without further ado, I introduce to you: "Mindgardening".

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What is Mindgardening?

Transforming the self-improvement journey into growing a garden-

What would happen if you transformed your success goals, mental well-being, and any other goals you might have into a process of nurturing and growth? The point of Mindgardening is to imagine your goals, your journey as a garden. Instead of growing traditional vegetables, fruits, and flowers, you are growing your most successful and positive self! What's nice about this method is realizing that, like flowers, our mind and mental state are also fragile, and when we neglect our internal and external needs, we too can wilt and deplete a bit.

Now I have a question for you all: what are some needs or aspects of your life that you've been neglecting care for?

I want you to take a minute while you're reading this to follow along in this visualization exercise with a side of journaling, and if you're not in a good place to, I encourage you to come back later and try. You don't want to? That's okay too. What's amazing about the human mind is that we make individual decisions, but we don't like to visualize? That's okay! I'll also be making some alternate points, so skip this if you wish. For the people who do want to do this exercise, get ready to put your gardening gloves on and read ahead.

• Step one: Close your eyes and imagine yourself outside. Let's start with the basics- Based on how you've been feeling lately, what's the weather like? Is it Sunny outside? Cloudy? Or is it as extreme as a hailstorm? Take note of this as you go further. In front of you is a garden, it can be a fruit, vegetable, or flower garden, construct it as you wish! Now I want you to be honest with yourself. Based on your mental state, what is the state of your garden? Is it dry or barren? Is it lush or droopy? Is it healthy? Or does it need a bit of care? Take note.

• Step Two: Now, I want you to get a journal out, or if it's easier, open your notes app and write your findings in this exercise. I also want you to write some needs that you've been putting to the side lately, and get creative by correlating these needs to garden needs. (Example: "I haven't been watering my creativity, and now I'm feeling a loss of productivity in neglecting this." Write as many as you can come up! If you need a break too, come back to this later, or as things come up! Part of mindgardening is practicing mindfulness, and don’t be afraid to dive deep!

Isn't this kind of cool? I've been using this practice in my life and introducing it to people in my circle, and it makes for great philosophical conversation and gets really deep. If you think about it, even before you were aware of this concept, you were still a gardener of your life. Now you’re more aware of it and can continue to plant new seeds, hopefully through these articles! We’re all creating beautiful gardens in our lives, and it’s great to mindgarden with friends! You’re not alone, even if you feel like it. Which sometimes, when we’re weeding out negative mindsets, people, places, and things, it can feel gloomy and lonely. This might be a hot take, but vulnerability and needing help aren’t weakness, it makes you wise.

If this article helped you, share it with others! We’re all growing in our own beautiful ways, and that’s amazing! Keep going and keep growing! Whether I know you personally or not, you have someone out there who’s rooting for you. Keep your eyes peeled for new mindgardening posts, they’ll be coming soon!

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to planting some seeds, business-wise, but I’ll be back soon!

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Catch you on the flip side!

Ida Summers