Collective

Consider the collective. There will always be moments of self revelation, growth and self driven action, and it is also important to consider the collective when you are experiencing a growth spurt. Some may refuse your growth spurt and attempt to block out your light to prevent any more, some may turn away because they do not understand, and some may be lifted up by your energetic growth and come with you. While it’s easiest to only pay attention to the ones that share your thirst for growth and activity, it is wise to consider the collective and notice how your growth may affect others.

We cannot change others’ behavior or energy, but we can notice, become more aware, more perceptive, and appreciate moments of pause within our days and nights to reflect on how we might become even more mindful, more kind, and less self absorbed.

Think about the bulbs in a flower bed throughout the seasons. In dormant time, there is much growth underground and accumulation of nutrients in order to push through the earth and start to absorb the beauty and intensity of the sun thoroughly and directly. Some bulbs may have been placed too closely together and crowd each other out, leading the different and creative ways to get the nutrients that they need to survive. Some may thrive, some may stay dormant underground, and some may have external factors like nibbling gophers or less desirable soil. Not one bulb is the same, not one flowerbed is the same, no two flowers are alike. The path to get to full bloom varies from plant to plant, season to season. Do flowers act together as a collective and help each other to succeed? Is one flower’s success to full bloom the celebration of the entire flower bed? Please consider.

The goal of this metaphor is to share how we, as humans, can become very singular in our thinking, and not always consider how our actions affect others. Without stopping any self driven action, being mindful and caring, understanding how others might react or lash out because of our own growth, and being prepared to listen to others’ concerns is part of the beauty and weight of human consciousness.

Enjoy a pause today to reflect on this.