Are You Being Choked By Weeds?
I discovered the other day that the little patch of plants I was so lovingly caring for were, in fact, weeds! I had planted some cabbage seeds and mistakenly thought they were my little cabbages until the weeds got bigger and I realised my mistake 
Being a novice gardener, I am learning all the time!
My mistake then had me thinking about my own life and what ‘weeds’ I am cultivating.
Some of the weeds in our life can grow rampant and totally overtake all the sweet, good things; whilst others may pop up here and there and make a slower transition into a fully grown weed.
Sometimes, we may not realise we are cultivating our weeds as weeds can look like something else entirely – just like my cabbage patch. It’s not until they start to grow and choke the good things that we recognise the damage that the weed is doing. And by then, it takes more effort to get the weeds under control. If they are a very bad pest, it can take a longer time to totally eradicate the weed.
Are your sweet, good things in life being choked by weeds?
You may realise you have a weed when you feel discontent, or unhappiness or unease in your life. Here’s how to discover your weeds and eradicate them (I recommend you download and print out the worksheet at the end of the list to help you further):
- Pinpoint an area in your life where you feel that something isn’t right… be specific. For example, if you are unhappy in your job or business, don’t write that down. Delve deeper to identify what specifically you are unhappy about. If you leave it too vague you won’t be able to find the weed.
- Once you have identified the source of your unhappiness, or discontent or unease, spend some time reflecting on when you began to feel that way so you can associate the timeline with a decision you may have made at that point in time.
- Next step is to identify the decision you made that led you to the path you are now on – the path that seems to have a few weeds in the cracks. Sometimes, we make decisions with very good intentions, and that may serve us very well at that point in time. But as you know, we don’t stand still; therefore, a decision you made some time ago may no longer be serving you.
- Spend some time reflecting on the decision you made and why it no longer serves you. What is different NOW? Are you the same person you were when you made the decision?
- Determine where the weeds are growing. From the timeline that you recognised in Step 2 to the point where you are now at in your life, what have you been doing to cultivate your weeds? Remember, weeds can sometimes be disguised as pretty flowers… we may initially think they are okay, so we pour a lot of water on them and fertilise and nurture them, then suddenly, BAM! They’re massive and we realise the pretty flower was a pest that is now encroaching on the values we hold dear in our life. (To determine your values, please click here.)
- Next, determine what steps you can take to remove the weed (or weeds) from your life. Take the approach you feel is necessary for your particular circumstance. For instance, a weed that is the source of your unhappiness, or discontent or unease may be one that you can immediately pour some weed killer on and quickly eradicate it from your beautiful garden (which is your life, your mind, your wellbeing). As an example, this may be an activity you are doing which you can quickly stop all together without any other ramifications to your life. On the other hand, another type of weed may be growing right next to something you value very deeply – if you were to pour weed killer it may very well kill off whatever is sitting next to it. So it requires you to spend more time in manually digging out each weed, taking care to preserve the other things next to the weed. The weed pulling exercise may take many forms – including (but not limited to) meditation, reflections, journaling, personal development, mentoring, and coaching; it’s important you find the forms that work best for you.
- Lastly, celebrate your courage and commitment in completing Steps 1 to 6. Take time to thank your higher self for supporting you on your weeding journey and reflect on the gifts that the weeds actually gave you.
Download the Weeding Worksheet. I suggest you use the worksheet following the steps above and use a new worksheet for every weed that you want to eradicate.
Happy weeding
Your Authentic Power
What does it mean to be in your authentic power?
It can be fairly said that when someone is in their authentic power, they are coming from a place within themselves, which in turn creates a charismatic presence that others tune into. That is, the person’s language and actions epitomises who they are, as a person, and emanates a light that others recognise, believe in, and listen to.
Sometimes, when we think of power we think of someone who is wielding control and dominance. Look back in history and you more than likely can think of several people of influence – in their time – who lived up to this meaning; and it is usually these same people we don’t think fondly of!
But when we think of all the inspirational leaders, both past and present, who, in one way or another, influenced your life, then you are seeing someone in their authentic power.
Ghandi, Mother Theresa, The Dalai Llama, Nelson Mandela are just a few that come to my mind.
Who comes to your mind as a true leader? What traits do you recognise?
Leaders who are authentic in their power are genuine, speak from the heart, are factual, have strength in their words and posture, live by what they say, and seemingly without the need to do so exercise a calming influence and authority that is neither domineering nor condescending.
Do not be fearful of power. Authentic power is empowering, rather than disempowering, and does not seek to dominate over another human being. Your Authentic Power can change other people’s lives for the better, and YOUR life. The heart you touch today through your authentic power can be the catalyst and turning point for another.
There are many different kinds of power. True power comes from serving and helping others. Such behavior makes people respect you. They are willing to listen to your views and advice, and they support you. The energy of many people is thus channeled through one person. This kind of power is positive and authentic. Dalai Lama
How do you “get into” your Authentic Power?
We all have authentic power within us and you can tap into it whenever you desire.
Think back to a time when you felt extremely confident – in your own power. What did it feel like? What was happening when you felt that power?
William James (American philosopher) said:
“Seek out that particular mental attribute which makes you feel most deeply and vitally alive, along with which comes the inner voice which says, ‘This is the real me,’ and when you have found that attitude, follow it.”
Your Authentic Power is your values – who you are, what you stand for and believe in. When you follow what you believe in and what matters to you – what you are PASSIONATE about – you step out with conviction and purpose.
This is your Authentic Power that people subconsciously tune into and are drawn to.
Try this exercise and see how it works for you.
When you go out next to the store, the park or wherever you are going, before you head out, visualise and hold in your heart the person you are – no matter if you haven’t got there yet. If you want to be the next President of the United States, or a visionary missionary in a country most people haven’t heard of – whatever it is that is in YOUR heart.
Visualise it, hold it there in your inner space and LIVE it. Play a movie in your mind of YOU and what is happening in your life… the genuine influence that is surrounding you. Believe in your movie. Then go out and hold that person, YOU, and that movie in your heart and mind. I can guarantee that you will be amazed at the people that are attracted to you because you are emanating your own Authentic Power.
Article by Tara West © 2009
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