a plant’s guide to self-care (for humans)

In my home, a beautiful Braided Pachira plant sits in a small room by a window. There’s a desk there too, usually covered in Lego projects, though sometimes I clear a corner to write. One of these occasions, I decided to use a prompt from "The Book of Alchemy: A Creative Practice for an Inspired Life" by Suleika Jaoud, encouraging me to simply sit for five minutes, notice what was there, and then write about it. 

My attention settled on the plant. At first, I noticed and appreciated the deep green leaves. Then, as I looked more closely, I saw that many of the leaves’ edges were brittle, brown, and cracked (which is likely a sign of underwatering, overwatering, or lack of proper nutrients.)

I felt guilty for not taking better care of the plant and made a mental note to prune and water it, ASAP! But, in keeping with the mindfulness prompt, I kept looking and noticed something surprising. There were new shoots pushing their way out from the stem. Their leaves were small, tender, and a lighter shade of green than the older ones. I was surprised to see new growth at all. If the plant hadn’t been watered or fed properly, how was she still growing? 

I found myself in a kind of conversation with the plant in that way where we begin to hear our own inner voice and insights more clearly. At the risk of sounding super weird for talking to a plant, here is what I heard the plant say:

"I'll keep growing, that is my intention and my nature. Your job is to take care of me. The growth will happen but it will be fuller, better, if I am taken care of. That is what I ask of you."

As long as the plant is alive, the plant keeps growing, because that is her natural impulse. I sensed in that moment that I/We are also like this plant. We need care, nourishment, and supportive environments, but growth is the intention and impulse from within.

"I'll keep growing, that is my intention and my nature. Your job is to take care of me. The growth will happen but it will be fuller, better, if I am taken care of. That is what I ask of you." Imagine turning this statement toward yourself. This concept asks us to consider what conditions we need to thrive AND to take responsibility for providing those conditions. If we ignore, devalue, or dismiss our needs, we only make it more difficult for ourselves to grow. I found this notion to be both empowering and a relief. With the plant, my job is to learn what it needs, provide those conditions, and then step back so it can do what it was meant to do (grow). I realized I could apply this  to my own well-being too.

I've created a guided worksheet for you to explore how this might apply to your own self-care and self-love practice. This worksheet can stand alone - you can print it out and go step-by-step through the prompts - or you can take what is useful to you and adapt it to fit your needs (i.e. journal, expressive arts, talking with a trusted other, meditation).

plant's guide to self-care (for humans).

Download • 287KB

I hope this resonates with you or helps you spark your own musings on plants, self-love, and creativity.

Warmly,

Stefanie