Thursday, December 26, 2019

Plant 12 Seeds Today for 2020

It's the in-between time, that week between Christmas and the New Year and your brain is busy trying to figure out how to prepare for what lies ahead.  Too many people fail at making changes that stick and I think I know why.  It has to do with repeating the same mistakes.  Real change can't happen overnight.  It can't happen just because you think this year is going to be different.  The pressure you're feeling could be a result of the added stress you're under from knowing this happens to be a new decade.  I have a solution and it may or may not work depending on your own willingness to commit.  First of all, please don't call this a "resolution."  Instead, consider this an experiment.  If the experiment works, you can make it a permanent lifestyle and you can use it for the entire decade and beyond.  If it doesn't work, move on and try something else.  There's no pressure here.

You are now a farmer.  Your job for the remainder of this "in-between" time is to acquire 12 seeds.  These are unique experimental seeds that come from within your own mind.  They are the seeds of life – your life.  You will plant one seed each month for the next 12 months.  If you plant them all at once, similar to all those resolutions you made in previous years, the seeds will probably die.  Your new life depends on your willingness to be patient and your openness to the idea that you are now a farmer.

You may be asking, "What do my seeds look like?"  The better question to ask is "What's missing in my life?"  Think carefully.  You have six days to decide.  A wise farmer will choose his seeds carefully and prepare properly with good planning.  I'll give you an example of what I think a quality seed may look like.  It's called the forgiveness seed, also known as the "letting go" seed.  This seed has the ability to open your eyes to all the possibilities that exist in your future.  The way it works is you plant it on January 1, water it every day, keep the weeds out by forgiving everybody in your past who hurt you.  It's not necessary to contact these people.  The only requirement is that you let go of the hurt you are feeling in your heart.  Do this for thirty days.  You are not allowed to miss one day.

Here's another idea.  I call it the meditation seed.  It could be a nice choice for February.  Set aside 15 minutes a day and give yourself some space to do nothing except clear your mind.  You can use the time to evaluate how your "forgiveness seed" impacted your life.  Set a timer to make sure you go the full 15 minutes.  If you get stuck, reach out to me.  I planted this seed earlier in the year and I may be able to help you with some interesting farming techniques.

The last request I have for you is to make sure you get a 2020 calendar and write down what seeds you will plant on the first day of each month.  This will help you with your experiment because you can prepare yourself in advance for how you will watch over each special seed you plant.  Your goal is to keep all 12 seeds alive by focusing on one seed at a time.  I promise you one thing.  You will get out of this experiment what you put into it.  It's up to you to decide your top 12 seeds.  My only recommendation is that you don't plant a "go to the gym" seed on January 1.  Save it until March when all the other farmers have quit and moved on.  Your gym experience will be much more favorable.  Happy farming.  Have a great day.

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