How propagating seeds of positive thought can nourish the spirit
The sunflower towers implausibly high above the ground, its bright, nodding head joyfully punctuating the horizon. It seems precarious, but only because its strong network of roots and nutrients is hidden beneath the earth. In a similar way, it’s possible to be unaware of your own potential to tap into a vast and intelligent subconscious mind. This part of the brain provides access to a lifetime of experience and wisdom that cannot possibly be held in the conscious mind, which has only a limited capacity.
One of the wonderful things about gardening is you don’t have to fully understand the science of germination to grow precious blooms. The blueprint of a flower exists within its seed. Once planted, it will reach out into the soil to find the nutrients it needs. And, given optimum conditions, it will begin to unfurl.
Much like a gardener, the conscious mind plants seeds in the fertile soil of the subconscious mind. What you think about and focus your attention on becomes the blueprint for your possibilities. A fully formed goal or idea planted in this way will reach into the recesses of past experiences while also taking advantage of current, favourable conditions to grow and thrive.
Gardeners choose their seeds according to several considerations. They might opt for sunflowers because they love the bold, tousled heads, or jasmine because the scent of the blooms in spring is intoxicating. They’ll also consider the suitability of the climate and the soil. The efforts of the subconscious mind are governed by a similar selection process. The reticular activating system (RAS) is a net-like formation of nerve cells and connections in the brainstem,
between the brain and the spinal cord. It acts as a filter for all the bits of information flowing through the subconscious mind at any one time and allows those messages that are currently important to enter the cerebrum (the largest part of the brain that interprets the senses, speech, reasoning, and emotions). Think about a time when you were planning a holiday and suddenly your eyes alighted on articles about your chosen destination or your ears pricked up at its mention on the radio or TV. This is the RAS in action, putting your priorities top of its list.
Natural instincts
When you focus on goals, by creating a clear idea of what you want and thinking of them often, you engage the support of your powerful subconscious mind. For example, if you’re focused on landing a new job, the RAS will include information to help you to achieve your goal, perhaps by reminding you of contacts with relevant experience, recognising opportunities that will support your goal, or locating useful tools and resources. Your conscious mind commands and your subconscious mind obeys.
The reverse is also true. When you focus on potential problems, you’re more likely to find them. It can be worth asking yourself which seeds you nurture most in your mind garden – those you wish to grow or the ones you’d like to avoid. Some people avoid dreaming of wonderful possibilities through a fear of disappointment and having their hopes dashed. Often, they’ll also focus on what could go wrong and mistakes they might make. In short, they’ll plant seeds of doubt and fear that eventually edge out hopes and dreams.
Using the mind’s watering can
Experienced gardeners begin by taking stock of what’s already growing in their patch. They’ll also check the soil and assess if extra nutrients are required for specific plants. Of course, humans are infinitely more complicated. Their requirements involve a balance of health and fitness, fulfilling work, supportive friends and family, hobbies, and fun, as well as room for personal growth and spirituality.
If these are in place, the foliage and blooms will flourish.
One way of doing this is to use the Wheel of Life (see opposite), an exercise developed in the 1960s by coaching expert and founder of Success Motivation Institute, Paul J Meyer. For each of the areas given (you might wish to change the categories to reflect your personal criteria), award a score from zero to 10. The aim isn’t to get full marks on everything – you might feel happy about an area with a score of eight – but to achieve a balanced wheel. When you’ve completed the wheel, it might be easier to identify any areas that need attention and choose which one to nurture first.
Picture the plant you want to grow
It might sound obvious, but do you have a clear idea of what you want in any particular area of your life? When you buy a pack of seeds it has a comprehensive picture of the plant’s characteristics, height and spread, as well as tips for favourable growing conditions. When you plant seeds in the subconscious mind, be equally clear about the picture on the packet. Wishing to run a thriving business is not a blueprint for success. Go into detail. Think about what it means to you. What would it look and feel like? How would your day-to-day life pan out? How many employees would you hire? What would you pay them? How many clients would you need to make it viable? The subconscious works in images and feelings – dream the details of your goals and imagine being there. If you’d like to travel, consider where you’d like to go and how long you’d prefer to be away. What do you need to make it happen?
The best way to plant a seed in the subconscious mind is by imagining the fully grown plant and the wonderful feelings that will flow having reached your goal. See what you would be seeing, hear what you would be hearing, feel what you would be feeling. Explore your goal with all your senses. Imagine the volume control on the radio and crank it up. Think of it regularly but don’t dwell or you might begin to find reasons to doubt. Trust that the seed you planted knows how to grow.
Nourish your seed by thinking on it periodically. Focus on the results you want and the positive feelings that will accompany them rather than how you will achieve it. You wouldn’t keep digging up a plant that has sprouted. You’d tend to it with water, give it the right light, and then hope. Take a similar approach with your goal. Try not to keep poking around at it, raising fears and worries. Nurture it as you look again at your final goal. Have no doubt that, with the right care and conditions, it will grow. Keep the ground where your seed is planted clear, or it might struggle to find its way through. When the conscious mind is full of thoughts, the subconscious can find it difficult to make itself heard. It’s often while we are occupied with meditative or mindful practices that it pipes up.
Observation is key for gardening. Keep an eye on changing conditions and adjust the nutrients and light so that your sunflower reaches its maximum height and displays its brightest bloom.
Illustrations: Sirin Thada
