Why Now is the Best Time to Start Planting Your Future
Spring is a time for growth.
As life begins anew from the receding hands of Winter, the change of season graciously offers us an opportunity for personal growth as well.
In Buffalo, NY, the days are noticeably longer. The snows have melted away and the warmth has thawed the ground. Soon, the trees and flowers will bloom.
These physical changes are noticeable because of how starkly they contrast what came before.
Next Year Will be Different
Most of us consider the beginning of the calendar year as the singular opportunity to reinvent ourselves. There time is the contrast. The annual number changes by 1 whole digit and we seek a new start to match that change.
“This year will be different!” we tell ourselves.
For some, that prediction comes true. For many of us, we start to lose faith in the change we seek and fall back into what’s comfortable, what’s known.
Seek Contrast and Start Now
Instead, consider a contrast right now.
There’s a Chinese proverb you’ve likely heard before: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Maybe you’re killing it, building up your life around a New Year’s Resolution that will last you a lifetime.
But maybe you’re like most of us—feeling a little stuck. The time got away from you it’s no longer January. It’s April.
Whether it’s the start of a new season or the start of a new day, your chance to start changing your life is right now.
You don’t need to make a grand gesture to start changing your stars.
You just need to plant your tree today. Then you need to show up and water it again tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after that.
You’re not planting the entire tree in one go—a fully formed tree with deep roots and large branches. You’re planting a seed. And you’re tending to it each day that follows to make sure it continues to grow strong.
How to Plant a New Seed for Your Personal Growth
Start Small — It’s not about going big. It’s about being consistent. To obtain something truly transformative in life, we need to care about that change over time. Don’t worry about how long it will take you. Care about starting now and adjusting as you go.
Go Easy on Yourself — We don’t have to have all the answers. And we don’t need them all right now either. Show up for yourself, for the future you cheering you on as they look back at how well you’re doing.
Progress, Not Perfection — We’re not perfect and we were never meant to be so. “Perfect” doesn’t exist so don’t try to race after it. By showing up consistently a little bit at a time, you’ll make something even better—progress. We’re more likely to attain the levels of success we seek when we build it up slowly. It may not be “perfect,” but it will be ours.
Final Thoughts
No matter the change you seek in your life, I hope you’ll begin that change today.
In a year or twenty, the impact from that consistent change will touch the lives of many.
Spring is here. Time to start planting.
Until next week, here are links to what I’ve been working on and treasures I’ve found out in the creative wilderness.
Enjoy!
Recent Finds
GFDA — Your Potential is Unlimited (IG Post) | I love the work that the Good Fcking Design Advice crew brings every day. This is one of my favorite posts of late. “Life begins in darkness, in mystery, in hidden places, but through you, life strives eternally to touch the outer world and be transformed in its light.” Check out the rest of this awesome post and consider how the future you create for yourself is open and full of potential.
Ali Abdaal — How to Start a Side Hustle (YouTube) | An interesting excerpt from Ali Abdaal’s conversation with YouTuber Patricia Bright. Having pursued a variety of side hustles for years now, this is one of the questions I get asked most often. If you’re at the beginning of the journey, wondering what to do first, this is a wonderful place to start. Their insights are spot on.
Mel Robbins — Spring is coming... savor it. (IG Video) | A beautiful sentiment. “Winter is a period of rest. Spring is a time for growth.” Savor the changes that come into your life. Watch this short video, take a breath, and get ready to face the day.
Quote of the Week
“People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures.”
— F.M. Alexander, Australian Actor & Author
That's all for now.
Stay creative, my friends—and have a great week!
