Even as snow continues to fall in parts of the United States, many of us are beginning to look ahead to Spring with its official start on March 20. I'm hearing comments like, "I can't wait to get started on ______ when I can get outside," or "I've been putting off _______ because of the weather, but it's time to get moving."
This time of year also brings a sense of renewal within me. To (mis)quote a line from Alfred Tennyson, Spring is that time when a young man's fancy turns lightly to.....gardening! My daughter and I have already begun looking through our collection of seeds, imagining all the amazing things we can grow.
As I reflected on the process to transform these seeds into plants, I was reminded of just how much it parallels the practice we can follow to move our ideas (i.e. seeds) toward reality. They include:
Prioritizing what you want to grow. If Sydney and I had our way, we would grow a little of everything. However, we have come to realize that almost every plant requires a specific growing regimen. If we attempt to grow too many different things, we won't be successful with any of them. Sound familiar? As you choose which ideas you want to grow, think forward to what the process looks like to make them successful. Compare that to your available time in the coming months. If you feel a bit stretched, choose to grow fewer ideas so you can make the "harvest" really successful.
Making a space to start them. All those seed trays and cups take up a significant amount of space and need to be placed where they won't be disturbed. Likewise, your ideas will need quality space in your day or week to grow. What do you plan to do to provide the mental or physical space? Manage your time more effectively? Cut out less important activities that have been occupying your time? Say "No" to additional obligations?
Creating the optimum environment. Just as seeds need specific resources to germinate and grow, so do our ideas. Take some time to think about the ideal environment that would really cause your ideas to take off. How can you create that environment with regards to how you structure your day or schedule your tasks?
Developing a routine to nurture their progress. A few years ago I had a beautiful tray of tomato seedlings in our small greenhouse. I checked them each morning. Unfortunately, I left on a business trip and forgot to ask my wife to water them while I was gone. I returned home to nothing but a few brown stems. Growing ideas, especially in the early stages, takes constant vigilance. It's so easy to get busy with the daily grind and neglect what's really important. What's the daily routine you will use to check the status of your ideas? Is it a checklist? Two or three questions you will ask yourself to evaluate your progress? Do you want others involved in growing this idea? Have you communicated what you need from them?
Celebrating small successes. We're planting tomato seeds this week but won't actually see tomatoes from them until late June. If I only judge the success of my efforts by the size of the tomatoes on the vine 3 months from now, it would be easy to get discouraged. Instead, I'll smile when I see those first seed leaves breaking through the soil. I'll take pride in seeing new growth on the plants once they have been transplanted, and again when they begin blooming. How about those ideas you're getting ready to plant? What will be the first signs to you that your efforts are paying off? The final result is important, but it's not the only thing you should celebrate.
I'm excited about the arrival of Spring... both for my garden and your ideas to move your work and life forward. It's time to harvest more of what's important to you!
What are the ideas you want to grow to reality?
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