Hi Friends, Did you implement the automobile University? I hope so :). Recently, at a networking event, the speaker talked about generosity and at the end, handed out a beautiful sunflower to each attendee. Who is not drawn to this bright, yellow, big, gorgeous flower? Looking at it, and being in awe, was all it took for me to be inspired. My sunflower is still looking good after 5 days. It is giving me joy and beauty and lifts my mood. If it were in the field it would do the same to all passers by. It would also give food to many animals; including birds, squirrels, chipmunks, mice and bears (yes, I looked it up). It seems to be giving a lot, doesn't it? It's also sturdy, strong and tall. It needs full sun exposure. It attracts butterflies and songbirds. It is heat tolerant, resistant to pests, and attractive to pollinators. It's seeds are also healthy for us humans. It's easy to grow. I had a variety a few years back that grew taller than me! It is heliotropic, meaning it turns its flower to follow the movement of the sun across the sky from east to west and then return at night to face the east, ready again for the morning sun. It takes 70-95 days to mature. It needs a nutrient rich soil. It dislikes having it's roots disturbed (doesn't like transplanting).Tall varieties require support as they get top heavy. Sunflowers were not only used for cooking by native Americans but also for healing (the oil was used to cure skin ailments), and making clothing ( yellow dye was used from the petals and blue and black from the seeds).The stems can be dried and used for kindling. Isabelle, when are you done with your science lesson, and what does that have to do with self development? I am glad you asked ;). Basically, BEFORE a sunflower can do ALL THAT, it needs to fill itself up with nourishment from the soil and energy from the sun. For 70-95 days it is all about growing and nourishing ITSELF. If it doesn't take the nourishment from the soil, because the neighboring sunflower might need it more, well, it won't even make it through the ground. If it doesn't stretch itself towards the sun every single day for 6-8 hours, because the grass or the tree might need the sun more, it would never develop, and it would never be able to give beauty, seeds, nourishment, pollination and so on. It needs to be patient and take care of its own needs for 70-95 days before it can be of use to others in its manifold ways. You know where I am going with this, correct? That's a perfect analogy for us women. Us nurturers and givers and helpers and healers. We absolutely need to fill ourselves up first, before we can be of any good to others. And if you do, you will be healthy, mature, beautiful, and able to nurture so many. What if you did that for 70-95 days? Like the sunflower? Radical self care for 2 1/2 -3 months? What would change?
Be like a sunflower. Nourish yourself, soak up the sun's energy and then...shine and nourish others.
Isabelle
Ask yourself: What do I need right now? You can even put it on your phone as a reminder 3 times or more a day. Why? Because I know we don't ask ourselves this question. This comes up with every client. What do you need? What do I need? When you ask yourself that question, your brain has to come up with answers. Write them down and implement one at a time.
What does it look like to have my roots nourished?
What does it look like to get the sun's energy?
What does it look like to move with that energy?
What does it look like to do this over and over again?
To do it over and over again is the point, by the way. And if you took care of yourself like that for 70 -95 days, you would have established a routine. A pattern. A good one. A healthy one. One to keep.
Let's all learn from the sunflower. Shall we?
PS: Message me for a free consult to start moving toward a more confident you.
You are loved. Deeply loved. Loved beyond measure.
Until next time,
Isabelle
Call or write for a free life coaching consultation
#732-331-2246
Isabellestephensoncoach@gmail.com
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