First Blog: What is Growing Roots

This blog is about exploring life through the lens of change. I want to grow into my life roots of productivity, organization and balance. And I want to help you grow too!

Growth Made Personal

All of the advice in this blog comes from me, Rose, and my journey of building up and blooming from the roots of personal understanding, self love and determination for positive change.

September is a great time to start your personal growth journey. While life seems to be slowing down around you as the temperature drops and the sky gets darker eariler, you can stay at a consistent pace.

A lot of people seem to think that when life slows down, you should speed up; but that is not the case. Speeding up your growth, especially when things slow down around you, is a recipe for burning yourself out.

By starting your personal growth journey this autumn, you are able to build a strong base for what you want your routines to be over the course of the season. These base routines, once you get used to doing the thing, can be edited or added too or even stopped at a later time.

Consistency is key. Start small, be adaptable.

Let's say your goal is adding a 20 minute workout to your routine 3 days a week.

What days will you workout?

Will you do it in the morning or late at night?

Will you to go to the gym or workout at home?

Will you run on the treadmill or lift weights?

All of these questions and options can seem overwhelming, so take the time this autumn to assess each option, try changing one thing at a time for a week or two, and determine is the best thing for you.

Growing pains will happen, its okay to slow down and work out the knots.

Notice that I said "is the best thing for you". That is because what 'works best for you' and what actually is the best for you and your growth might be different things.

Experiential Example: I always wanted to format my routine to start my day as late as possible. Think waking up at 9 or 10 a.m. late. For a time, I was able to format my days to wake up that late, but I was miserable. I was always groggy and short tempered, stressed about squeezing in a 10 hours worth of schoolwork into 5, and fitting in eating at 3 meals a day. I frequently missed my own very strict self imposed deadlines homework, and was angry at myself for missing them.

I found that waking up early, around 6 or 7 a.m., is actually better for me. I have a better attitude, I have more time to do things, from schoolwork to helping Mom in the kitchen to writing this blog. I also, as an added part, go to sleep earlier. I am a girl who is in bed by 10 or 11 p.m. By doing this I am well-rested and ready to take on the next morning with a positive attitude.

As you change what you've been doing into what you want to do, your body and mind might struggle to adjust, and push back against what you are doing. Your body and mind want to be comfortable, they want routine, and they want things to stay the same. So actively trying to change what you do, and your mindset about it, will make your body and mind work. Remember, this work will be for your growth, your betterment, your blooming.

If you commit to it, are consistent with it, and not complacent with yourself; you can and will change. For the better or for the worse is up to you.

The Garden Metaphor

Life is a garden. What does it grow? Whatever you plant and care for.

You can seed it, but some seeds will die.

You can water it, but some plants will rot.

You can give it sunlight, but some flowers will wilt.

Note: Some things are invasive and will take root in your garden even if you didn't plant them. When that happens, you may have to replant your garden to accommodate this new growth. This does not make your garden deficient or imperfect, you just have a little spontaneous sprout.

Only constant, consistent care over your years will make your garden bloom.

This blog functions as fertilizer: a reminder, a prompt, or an example that can help your seeds of growth to get a little stronger or root a little deeper.

I hope you enjoy your journey of personal growth and I hope that Growing Roots helps you blossom through it. - Rose