Over the past two years, we’ve all been walled up in a sort of cement garden, doing our best to break through the concrete and let ourselves bloom. And the fact that most of us are struggling is no surprise.
2021 came with many challenges: the pandemic, the inflation surge, and the increase in the number of people experiencing anxiety and depression. Taking all of this into account, you might find yourself thinking that the spring of 2022 isn’t looking as enticing as it should.
But the truth is, despite all of these challenges, there is still room for growth, optimism, and self-care. So why not let yourself bloom this spring? Sure, it’s not going to happen overnight, nor will it be a walk in the park. But at the end of the day, the final result is always worth the effort. And, chances are, that effort might prove to be an enjoyable journey in itself.
What It Takes to Grow
To bloom means to flourish. That is, it means to grow strong and healthy through a combination of internal resilience and external nurturing.
And, if you want to allow yourself to bloom, you have to create the right conditions that will help you reach your full potential – physical, professional, or creative.
But what do these conditions mean in the real world?
Well, the easiest way to give yourself space for growth is to look at your essential needs. According to Maslow’s hierarchy, these include:
- Physiological needs
- Safety needs
- Love and belonging needs
- Esteem needs
- Self-actualization needs.
To truly bloom, you have to cover all of these, perhaps even with a bit of extra, ensuring that your self-growth never stops but continues flourishing into something beautiful.
So, how can you do this in a way that will drive growth and contentment?
Lower Level Needs: Health, Safety, and Belonging
Perhaps the first step for letting yourself bloom this spring is to make a conscious decision to take better care of yourself.
There are many ways to do this.
If we’re talking about general health, the self-care routine that will allow you to thrive should include several elements:
- a healthy whole-meal-based diet
- a proper exercise regime
- a focus on getting enough sleep
Of course, no self-care plan is complete without actively listening to your body. You also have to ensure that you’re giving yourself enough time to relax, de-stress, and recover from life’s challenges.
As for safety, remember that it’s not just about shelter and food on the table. Prioritizing your safety should also mean giving yourself an attainable level of financial freedom. Furthermore, it should also constitute giving yourself the right to say “No” to things that will drain you of precious energy or stunt your growth.
Finally, to give yourself a basis to bloom this spring, you have to ensure you’re in an environment where you feel love and where you belong. Don’t allow your meaningful relationships to dwindle. Don’t let your social life suffer. And try to find ways to expose yourself to new people and experiences.
Yes, it’s not exactly easy having a rich social life in 2022. But it’s entirely doable, as long as we make it a priority.
Higher Level Needs: Self-Esteem, Self-Respect, and Self-Actualization
Once you’ve covered the basics, you mustn’t stop there. After all, thriving doesn’t happen in satisfactory conditions. It happens when our lives are rich with the “food” that helps us grow and surpass our expectations.
And, it just so happens that that “food” equals self-love and investing in ourselves.
So, to let yourself bloom this spring, think about ways you can enrich your life in ways that will make you happy, satisfied, and proud of yourself.
Perhaps it’s taking up a creative hobby. Or it might be a proactive approach to learning a foreign language. Self-actualization can even come from finally working up the courage to quit your job and go after your professional goals with all you’ve got.
And, of course, don’t forget that we humans are social creatures. Sometimes, the best way to let ourselves prosper is to surround ourselves with people we love. It’s to connect with them. Take care of them. Be there for them. And, through that process, find out things about ourselves that will allow us to continue on our journey of self-love, self-care, and self-nurturing.
Final Thoughts
Blooming isn’t something that happens overnight. However, it’s not impossible either.
So don’t be afraid of going after your best self this spring. Think about all the ways in which you can grow. The possibilities are almost endless.
To ensure that you see results and don’t burn out halfway to the finish line, pick a pace that’s sustainable over long periods. Because life is not a race – it’s a marathon. And the only way to make the most of it is to ensure that you learn how to recognize your needs and give yourself what you require. Be it a rest, a surge of inspiration, an opportunity to let loose, or a good dose of discipline that’ll set you back on your chosen path.