by Julianna Beckert Q: How can I keep going when I feel like I’m failing? A: Tend your tiny sprouts. Picture a little tomato sprout popping up out of rich, cozy soil. It’s just a tender young little thing. Skinny little stalk, cute, round baby leaves — not even the real-deal tomato leaves yet. It’s not clear what it’s going to become yet, but it’s all in there building up cell-by-cell. Now imagine that tiny cute sprout looking in the mirror and saying, "I’m so stupid. Who do I think I am? A tomato? As if. I’ll never make fruit. I can’t even grow right. I’m a joke." :'( Aww. Poor little sprout. At that delicate stage, a few nasty words could shrivel it right back into the dirt — and poof, no tomatoes for anyone. It’s ridiculous when we say it about a sprout, but somehow, it feels normal when we talk to ourselves that way. Here’s the truth: the sprout doesn’t deserve that poison, and neither do you. Plants don’t waste time feeling ashamed they’re not full-grown. They just do their thing: soak up some water and sun, grow a little, rest, and repeat. We’ve got more going on upstairs than a tomato plant, but maybe we could still take a page from their book. Now zoom out. Picture your whole self as a giant, messy, beautiful greenhouse full of plants – some plants are sturdy and thriving, some are floppy and need a stick to lean on, and some are just little nubs poking out of the dirt. Your guitar lessons? A new sprout. The way you show up in relationships? Maybe an old oak, maybe a finicky little orchid. Everything you’re learning, everything you’re practicing — it’s all growing. When you start something new, it’s supposed to feel awkward and fragile. That’s normal. Your job isn’t to bully it into greatness. Your job is to water it, protect it, and whisper, "You’re doing great, little buddy." You get to decide every day, if you're feeding your greenhouse with nutrients, or dousing it in Roundup. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others. We’re all just little sprouts, reaching for the sun. Visit monkeymindful.com to submit your question or find transformational workshops and coaching sessions. No. 137
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