photo: Adam Tagarro

Yesterday, while I was out weeding my garden, it hit me—taking care of our emotional well-being is a lot like tending to pesky weeds. You know, the ones that just keep popping up seemingly out of nowhere.

With summer in full swing and all the fun activities going on, it's easy to forget about our emotional health. We'd rather bask in the warm sun and enjoy the good vibes. But just like those untamed weeds, our emotions can run wild if we don't give them the attention they deserve.

Weeds and Negative Thoughts Share A Lot in Common:

1. They compete for our energy and resources, draining us in the process.
2. Weeds release substances that inhibits a plants growth, negative thoughts keep us stuck and hinder our personal development.
3. Weeds host all sorts of pathogens that can harm a healthy plant, just as negative thoughts weaken our overall well-being.
4. Weeds restrict airflow, which can lead to plant diseases. Similarly, negative thoughts limit our emotional clarity and resilience.
5. Oh, and weeds are prolific reproducers! Negative thoughts have that same sneaky talent for compounding and overwhelming us.

Caring for Your Emotional Garden:

Just like you tend to your garden, cultivating emotional well-being requires some good ol' TLC. Here are a few tips to help you become the master gardener of your emotions:

• Daily tasks: Taking care of your emotional garden is an ongoing gig. Set aside time every day for activities that help you reflect, unwind, and grow emotionally.
• Grounding moments: Find ways to connect with your emotions and give them the attention they deserve. These moments act like anchors, keeping your emotional landscape intact.
• Ride the waves: Emotions ebb and flow—just like changing seasons. Sometimes they're super intense and other times mild and breezy. Learning to identify patterns will help you prepare for the storms.
• Toxic weed alert: Not all negative thoughts are created equal. Identify the toxic ones—the real troublemakers—and make it a priority to tackle them with the right support.
• Get to the root: Don't just skim the surface. Dig deeper and uncover the root causes of your distress. That's where the real healing happens.

Practices that help me:

• Journaling: Grab a pen and let it all flow onto the paper. It's like decluttering your mind and finding clarity in the chaos.
• Inspirational reads: Dive into books that uplift and inspire you. Right now, I'm loving Mary Oliver's "Upstream." 
• Embrace acceptance: Remember, in life pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Tara Brach's "Radical Acceptance" is a fantastic read to help you shift your perspective.
• Nature therapy: Step outside, take a stroll, and soak up the healing vibes of Mother Nature. This one is my go to and always works wonders.
• Gratitude: Practicing gratitude is a superpower. There's always someone out there who's dealing with much worse and with much less. Counting your blessings fosters resilience, contentment, and compassion.

With summer solstice approaching, its a perfect time to pause, appreciate your growth, and pull out those emotional weeds. Remember, just like your physical garden, nurturing your emotional well-being is an ongoing process. So, get out there, embrace the messiness, and let your emotional landscape flourish. You've got this!

xo-Anna