“Bloom From Where You Are”
The phrase “bloom where you’re planted” encourages individuals to make the most of their opportunities, to appreciate their present situation and to thrive despite the circumstances. However, in reality, many people struggle to adopt this philosophy when they are not content with their present situation. Nevertheless, there are several ways to develop a positive mindset and make the most of what one has.
The first step is to understand that your thoughts are under your control. It is common to believe that thoughts are beyond our control, but we can take responsibility for our attitudes. In any given situation, we can control how we choose to perceive what is happening around us. For instance, if you are unhappy with your current job, focus on other positive aspects of your life, view the position as a stepping stone to your dream job, or use your dissatisfaction as motivation to work harder. Leverage tools, opportunities, resources and take advantage of networking opportunities.
Your thoughts have a tremendous impact on your mindset, which is why it’s important to control them. As Earl Nightingale once said, “We become what we think about.” Choose to see the good in every situation, and learn to appreciate what you have. Reframe your negative thoughts, and look for the positive in every circumstance. Remember what Marcus Aurelius said, “The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” An example of someone who embodies this is Oprah Winfrey. Despite being born into poverty, she cultivated a positive mindset and used her struggles as motivation to become one of the most successful media moguls in history.
Change is a constant in life, and it is crucial to accept it to thrive, even in unfavorable circumstances. By learning to embrace change, one can develop mental flexibility, which helps one to adapt to new experiences, to be open-minded, and to identify opportunities that can make a significant difference. Change is essential for personal growth, and by learning to adapt instead of being upset, one can progress forward in life. Change is inevitable, and it’s how we respond to it that determines our success. As Tony Robbins said, “The only limit to your impact is your imagination and commitment.” Instead of fearing change, look for the opportunities it presents. Embrace new experiences and challenges, and learn from them. As Maya Angelou once said, “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Another inspiring example of someone who embraced change is J.K. Rowling. She went from living on welfare to becoming one of the wealthiest women in the world because she embraced change and took advantage of the opportunities that came her way.
To bloom where you’re planted, it is essential to focus on the positive aspects of your life. A negative mentality can cause energy to diminish, and it can make it difficult to develop a positive attitude. Instead of focusing on your ideal situation, try to value and appreciate what you have at the moment. Focus on the things that make you happy, such as relationships, hobbies, or personal achievements, and make a conscious effort to enjoy them. It’s easy to focus on what you don’t have, but it’s important to appreciate what you do have. Remember what Helen Keller said, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart.” Focus on the people, relationships, and experiences that make you happy, and let go of negative thoughts and feelings. An example of someone who values what they have is Warren Buffett. Despite being one of the wealthiest people in the world, he still lives in the same modest home he bought decades ago and values his relationships with family and friends above all else.
In every circumstance, there are lessons to be learned. By looking for life lessons, we can turn challenging experiences into valuable learning opportunities. No matter how difficult the situation may be, there is always something to learn from it. You can learn resilience, self-discovery, or how to make better decisions in the future. If you cannot identify the lessons immediately, remind yourself that you will learn something in the future. Every experience presents an opportunity to learn and grow. As Nelson Mandela once said, “I never lose. I either win or learn.”
Look for the lessons in every situation, even the challenging ones. When you learn from your circumstances, you can make better decisions in the future. Another inspiring example of someone who learned from their circumstances is Malala Yousafzai. After surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban for advocating for girls’ education, she used her platform to continue advocating for human rights and education.
“Radical acceptance” is the art of acknowledging and accepting your current situation, including what you cannot change. This mindset is about accepting your current reality, the ups, and downs, and not getting caught up in “what if” scenarios. Radical acceptance is not about agreeing with the situation, but it is about understanding that suffering is optional. You can choose how you interpret the situation and respond to it. Practice with small things, like traffic, and learn to accept bigger setbacks, like not getting a promotion, by understanding that everything happens for a reason.
Author and professional speaker and coach Jack Canfield uses the concept of Event + Response = Outcome. The E+R=O formula is based on the idea that events are neutral, and that it is our responses to those events that determine the outcome. In other words, the outcome is not determined by what happens to us, but by how we react to it.
Radical acceptance is about accepting your current circumstances as they are, and focusing on what you can control. As Viktor Frankl once said, “When we are no longer able to change a situation — we are challenged to change ourselves.” Practice accepting what you cannot change, and focus on making positive changes where you can.
An inspiring example of someone who practiced radical acceptance is Stephen Hawking. Despite being diagnosed with a debilitating disease, he accepted his circumstances and focused on his strengths, becoming one of the most influential physicists of our time.
Finally, it is important to identify areas where you can make changes to improve your present situation. Complaining about unfavorable circumstances does not lead to solutions, and it can affect your attitude negatively. Instead, look for ways to make the most of the present situation, seek to improve areas that you can change, and take risks to connect with new people and explore new opportunities.
“Bloom where you’re planted” means making the most of the opportunities that come our way, appreciating the present situation, and thriving despite the circumstances. Developing a positive mindset flexes the power to make the most of our current situation and opportunities. This includes accepting change, focusing on the positive aspects of your life, learning from your experiences, valuing what we have, practicing radical acceptance, and identifying areas where you can make changes to improve your present situation.
By cultivating the right mindset, we can all bloom and thrive, no matter where you land.
Noble Bloom, Est. 2010
This article is dedicated to Winsome Sutherland, Founder of Noble Bloom who gave the inspirational quote: “Bloom where you are planted.
“Bloom Where You Are Planted” essay by Wendy Cowan, Principal with StrongHER Consulting Locally Global in 70 countries!
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