A new spring

We are now well into meteorological spring. All around us, we see blossoms on the trees and new green shoots emerging. Garden centres are busy with people wanting to breathe new life into their gardens.

But before the new plants can be planted, space must first be made. Sometimes that means pruning here and there, and sometimes it means removing weeds, roots and all. It's a nice word, actually, 'weed': according to Wikipedia, it refers to wild or feral plants that are particularly undesirable in that location. So in another location, that same weed is suddenly a welcome sight.

After pruning and removing, or perhaps just moving, that spontaneously grown shrub, there is room for new life. Often very colourful and bursting with new energy. We provide potting soil so that the plants can quickly take root and some extra fertiliser so that they can develop quickly. We water them regularly and almost watch them grow.

But what about the garden in our minds? How do we bring about a new spring there? There, too, it is important to prune and say goodbye to old beliefs that no longer bring us happiness. Beliefs are those things that you accept as true but that may not be true for others, and more importantly, vice versa. And the beauty of beliefs is that, just like plants, you can choose them yourself.

What can be removed here, what no longer adds colour to your life? Sometimes they have deep roots, so make sure you remove those too. What other beliefs would you like to plant in that newly freed space? What would you like to be convinced of, what would help you in this phase of your life? Are there people around you who share that same belief? How did they plan it, how did they ensure that it took root quickly and blossomed fully? Perhaps you can learn something from them, and if not, just give your new planting a lot of attention. You can do this literally by choosing a symbol for that new belief and using it as the background on your phone or putting a card in your wallet, as long as you see it regularly and are reminded of it.

Remember that with the right care, that one small seed can grow into a large, sturdy and colourful plant. So first clear your mind, choose your seeds, give them love and attention, and enjoy the results.

More than 10 years ago, when I was suffering from burnout, I thought the world would be better off without me. Now I believe that I make the world a little better every day. One of my new beliefs that has brought me this far is that anything is possible if you believe in it. So what seed do you want to plant, how are you going to add more colour to your life?

Certainly a good moment for reflection during the May holidays. I wish you a wonderful new spring.