Insight from the garden. Pruning plants ~ pruning in my life

Melinda Nakagawa
6 days ago
6 min read

I've have some great new growth spurts in my business recently as a result of working in our Mingle! Learning Collaborative through the use of tools, activities, co-working sessions and live mentoring.

Along with this expansion of my work, I see a need for pruning back old parts that need to be released in order to make room for the new evolved version to flourish. It can be a little nervous-making when you think about pruning old things, whether its a belief, activity, offering, or way of being but something showed up that helps ease the process.

Solution to how to prune and let go

I turn to nature as my guide. Today my garden offered some insight-- In gardening terms, you prune a plant so that you can direct its energy to grow it another more favorable direction.

Yes, and I personally need to direct my time and energy to go in the new aligned direction too!

Unexpectedly, I was called into my garden with pruning loppers in hand to visit several of my plants- a cherry guava tree, ceanothus (wild lilac), and potato bush. I have known they need to be pruned for a couple of years but just haven't. They are now overgrown, messy with weaker branches and dead sections.

As I moved to remove dead branches and overgrown sections I had resistance to cutting and the doubts arose about how to do this.

Will I cut the right branches? Will I kill the plant? Will I ruin its ability to grow?

Then, I said to myself- "they will continue to grow no matter where I cut. I can trust the process of pruning"

As I pruned off branches, I thanked each tree and shrub for all that its given to me, the birds, bugs and others, and sent it good wishes for healthy growth.

Working in the garden among the trees and plants, with the blue sky above fresh air blowing, and birds chirping all around me, it was a nourishing, calming and grounding (or centering) activity, I got more and more comfortable in trusting my hands to choose the correct branches to prune and started to flow more easily.

It felt good to clean things up, and make room for new growth. I felt a nice exhale and

I smiled when I thought about how this is what's exactly needed in my business. too

Where do I need to prune?

I can use the same practice for pruning in my life and business:

Trust that whatever I choose, it's the right one and to trust my intuition with this.

When there is abundant growth and we fail to prune, things get overgrown, unmanageable, overcrowded or the plant fails to thrive..... This can happen in my life and business.

Recently I've been feeling wobbly with too many things going on and see the need to let go of of some old now-unhelpful beliefs and older offerings that are no longer what I do or no longer light me up. I need to do this in order to make room for the fresh new exciting things, and to bring me back to harmonious relationship. (I'll share more later...)

Reflection Time

Is there an area of your life or business that is ready to be pruned?
Is there something you've been dragging along even though you don't need it or love it anymore?
Can you identify one thing to prune?
And then take action by lovingly, with gratitude remove it from active duty?

Or, Are you still unwilling to let it go?- Then Its ok for now-

You will know the right time: it might look like when you feel overcrowded, overwhelmed by too much to do and manage, resentful that you have to do it....

That's when you can revisit the idea of pruning so that you can grown and thrive!

Your turn to prune:

Here are some steps modified from my Spark Journaling process to help you prune. If you can't actively cut branches (because its not your plants or you don't have permission) use your journal--and sketch the plant that calls to you and write about what shows up.

Pruning with Spark Journaling

Go to nature. Take three slow breaths as you slow down your pace. (if you are indoors, imagine your favorite nature place). Set an intention that you're here to get insight about pruning
Expand Awareness What sparks your attention?
Make Connections: Go closer to it and notice how its growing, where its coming out of the ground, what its connected to or beside it. Where is it feeling crowded? use your senses. You can take notes in our journal
Be curious: What looks or feels like it needs to be removed? (you can remove it or sketch and write about it). How would it feel afterward? What is possible after you pruned this section?
Insight: Listen beyond: Is there anything else that you sense about this plant? About how it grows or is connected or what it provides?
Give gratitude and love: say silently or aloud what you appreciate about this plant, thank it, then lovingly prune. Prune as many parts as you feel is needed, doing it with gratitude and reverence.
Now turn this insight to your life and/or business and repeat steps 1-6 (see below)

Next step, for inner reflection ( in purple). You can grab a journal, sketch and write your insights,new awarenesses, action steps, etc.

Pruning in your Life or Work with Spark Journaling

Go to nature. Take three slow breaths as you slow down your pace. (if you are indoors, imagine your favorite nature place). Set an intention that you're here to get insight about pruning
Expand Awareness What sparks your attention? about what needs to be pruned. (*note: if it feels too strong to imagine cutting something out, try imagine setting it aside- you can always pick it up again later if you need- but for now we are creating space for new things)
Make Connections: Go closer to it and notice how its growing, where its coming out of the ground, what its connected to or beside it. Where is it feeling crowded? use your senses. How did this come to being, what else is it connected to (people,places, things)
Be curious: What looks or feels like it needs to be removed? (you can remove it or sketch and write about it). what would it feel like or what is possible if you pruned this section? What would it feel like to have the spaciousness after pruning? What would that leave room for?
Insight: Listen beyond: Is there anything else that you sense about this plant? About how it grows or is connected or what it provides? How has this thing helped you reach this point in your life? What benefits, awarenesses, skills etc did you receive from it?
Give gratitude and love: say silently or aloud what you appreciate about this plant, thank it, then lovingly prune. Prune as many parts as you feel is needed, doing it with gratitude and reverence. Offer gratitude and celebration for all that this things has given to you as you worked with it in the past. Lovingly release it, set it aside mentally, and feel the spaciousness that it makes for you. What do you look forward to allowing to flourish next?

When you intentionally decide to keep or remove things you are curating your life and business so that it reflects your values and your mission. You are also choosing to spend your time only on the things that align with who you are now.

Everything grows and changes, inlcuding people, so we need to keep adjusting in order to respond to these changes.

If you unconsciously say 'yes' to too many things, you risk spreading yourself thin, or doing things out of obligation instead of desire. So take a look at your life. Is it time for pruning?

Let me know if any of this resonates with you!

If you'd like to come join me in growing and expanding your life to align with your heart centered values and goals, join me in the Mingle! Learning Collaborative! If you are a creative enterpreneur, have a job or wanting to create work that is truly you, come visit us! This is a free part of your membership to Spark Collective. Try a free trial here!

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