Grow as You Go Week 1: Plant the Seed
Welcome to Part 1 of our 6-week series! Let’s dig in!
If you’re reading this, you’ve already taken a major step in bettering your relationship with yourself. That’s what this week’s discussion is all about: first steps. A wise person once said “the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” And that’s so true for everything we do in life. Take a moment and close your eyes. No really, do it! (are you peeking?)
Take 5 deep breaths. With each inhale, think about where you are now. What you’re proud of. Maybe in breath 1, you consider your education. Maybe on the next, you consider your career. After that, maybe you reflect on a mastered skill or beloved hobby. Whatever 5 things come to mind on each inhale, I want you to remember the first step as you exhale. Perhaps on the first exhale, you think back to the first day of kindergarten. Maybe on the next, you reflect on your first job application. After that, maybe you consider the first time you saw a beautiful painting or sturdy woodwork and decided it was something you’d like to try.
Sometimes, it can be hard to see the forest from the trees. We lose sight of our roots because our branches have grown so lush. And the higher we grow, the farther we are from that teeny-tiny, life-altering seed. But look around your forest. You’ve grown so many parts of yourself by simply starting from the beginning! Life is amazing that way.
But, as I’m sure you know, that seed didn’t grow all on its own. See, even though initiation is critical, nurture is key. In plants, nurture comes from water, sunlight, soil, and nutrients. In people, nurture comes from a variety of sources, including dedication, practice, and drive. This leads me to takeaway #1: keep it simple. Just as plants require their 4 ingredients to grow, you can follow that example by choosing a few small supports that are important to your journey. This could be anything! For example, eating breakfast, drinking more water, spending time outside, and making connections each day. It could be reading a book, coming up with a bedtime routine, taking time to stretch, and doing an act of service. Whatever nourishes you, try to incorporate it into your nutrition/food/body peace journey.
“...Initiation is critical; nurture is key.”
Albert Einstein once said “if you ask a fish to climb a tree, it will go its whole life thinking it is stupid.” Comparison truly is a thief of joy. We are constantly inundated with images of the greatest accomplishments of those around us. But when I start to get down about not feeling caught up, it helps me to remember that 1) 12 year-old me would be so dang proud to see who I am now, and 2) I am comparing my insides to others’ outsides.
This leads me to takeaway #2: don’t compare your seed to someone else’s tree. If you think back to what we were discussing earlier, you know that to do so is simply illogical and unmotivating. The first time you decided to take up painting, were you automatically ready to recreate the Sistine Chapel? Could your kindergarten self have aced the SATs that first day? Here’s a hint: ummm, NO! Don’t compare your seed, or even your sapling as we go along, to someone else’s tree. Hey, for all you know, you’re not even the same kind of tree!
It is a gift to start somewhere; don’t rush the process, try to enjoy the ride.
“The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is often time...”
Our last takeaway is about conditions. So often, we ignore our environment and attempt to use sheer willpower to shoehorn ourselves into a space that cannot hold us. I once tried to grow a sunflower indoors, and let me tell you, plants have a lot to teach us about how our environment influences our growth. It is seldom the other way around. Takeaway #3: sow your seeds based on their lead.
If you know your plant will need extra light, place it in the sunniest sill in your home. If it’s one that needs frequent watering, but you’re only home for a small portion of the day, maybe choose something that’s more low-maintenance. If the sprout time is in 60 days but you were really hoping to harvest in 40, go with something that better fits your timeline. The most successful seeds will fit into your lifestyle, as will the most successful goals.
When setting goals, we often employ the SMART model, a traditional method for assessing the potential efficacy of a goal. The SMART model asks: is your goal S-specific, M-measurable, A-achievable, R-relevant, and T-time-sensitive? For our purposes, I’m going to deviate from that a bit. (Feel free to use either or both models, again, this is your show!) During the Grow as You Go series, I’d like us to implement SEED goals. Is it…?
S-sustainable and something you can maintain
E-easy-ish and simple to incorporate into your life
E-essential to your healing process
D-doable on a regular basis (whether that’s daily, weekly, biweekly, etc.)
Check out some examples below!
Do you notice the difference between a good SEED goal and a not-so-good SEED goal?
How about the difference between the traditional SMART goal and the SEED goals?
I personally like the flexibility and introspective nature of the SEED goal better for this process. But I’d love to hear your thoughts! That reminds me, reach out to us on social media! Keep scrolling to the end to see this week’s challenge.
Optional Supplies: Grow light (only necessary if you don’t have a location in your home with access to sunlight) | Gloves (gardening or rubber) | Small shovel | Small watering can
Want a plant pal to walk you through it? For a narrated version, please click here: https://rebrand.ly/ffa40zl
For a full list of supplies, check out last week’s post or download a printable version here.
Please tell your friends so they can share in this fun series with you! You’ll all be just six-weeks away from the best socially-distanced potluck ever, chock-full of fresh herbs!
To Recap Lesson 1: Plant the Seed
Takeaway #1)
Keep it simple; find what nourishes you
Takeaway #2)
Don’t compare your seed to someone else’s tree;
start where you are & be patiently present
Takeaway #3)
Sow your seeds based on their lead; set goals based your life’s current conditions
“I hope this first post has given you something to think about as you start to plant your physical and metaphorical seeds this week. Remember, even being here is an incredible step towards all you wish to accomplish. If you’d like some personal feedback on goals you have in mind, or are interested in starting nutrition counseling, please send me an email at kymber@sidebysidenutrition.com or contact@sidebysidenutrition.com. We’re here for you and happy to help, no matter where you are in your nutrition journey.”
About the Author
"Kymber Stephenson is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist living and working in the Greater Denver area. Her experience began with a love of food which led her to pursue a degree in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales University. As her love of science and helping people wove with that initial path, she continued on to a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Nutrition with a dual concentration in clinical dietetics and culinary food science.
Kymber is especially passionate about eating disorder management and prevention. In this vein, she focuses on educating clients about the multi-faceted ways history, marketing, food systems, culture, psychology, and body image affect health and relationships to nutrition, food, and body. She works with clients to truly fall in love with food again, acknowledging not only its nourishing properties, but truly embracing its comforts, tradition, and fun! Working in a client-guided manner with a Health at Every Size approach, she strives to help each unique person reach their idea of peace and satisfaction in their bodies and their overall lives. Kymber's driving philosophy is that all people deserve equitable access to quality food and evidence-based nutrition education, regardless of status or background."