Where do you go for your words of wisdom? Who do you turn to when you need advice? Have you ever employed the services of what is sometimes referred to as a “coach“?

Life is a gift we all have to enjoy, but it doesn’t come with a set of instructions. There’s no punch-list, bullet points, or operating manual to put you on the right track, let alone one of those little IKEA-style diagrams that shows you how everything fits together regardless of what language you speak.

Some folks get great guidance along the way, starting with family, friends, and benevolent influences. Others start with none of that, and overcome great odds to build a beautiful life from scratch.

But there are no guarantees in the game of life, no secret sauce or cheat codes to rely on. Someone whose life seems the most charmed may be masking a deep misery inside, while someone doomed with disaster from day one may overcome incredible odds to arrive in old age happy, healthy, and wise.

Wherever you were going, and whatever path you were on, you’re sure to encounter forks in the road. And while it’s good to have support in the moment at any given decision point, what’s even more valuable is to develop a state of mind and a mode of behavior that supports your goals and keeps your consciousness spiraling upwards through the stages of your life.

Building your own muscles to help you manage the game of life is always a good idea. Help is great if it’s there when we need it, but you can’t always count on support to arrive at any given moment. One might say that it’s obvious that some level of self-sufficiency in this regard is a good idea.

I recently opened up my long-neglected timeline on that website Facebook. I was surprised to be reminded of how many shiny, successful-looking people are out there eagerly offering their services to “coach“ me on everything from earning money to losing weight to finding a love interest. (Found, thank you!) These offers often begin with a complementary “strategy session“ which I assume is usually followed by the hard-sell for some pricy “package“ or exclusive “mastermind” offering.

Now far be it from me to disparage any individual who is out there helping others. I’m sure many of these people are offering real value, and I count some great and effective coaches among my personal friends. If this is what it takes for you to get results, more power to you!

But pondering the big picture of the personal development phenomenon got me thinking about other ways to glean wisdom from the world at large.

While you could go invest thousands in the services of a professional coach, you can gain a lot of ground simply by spending twenty bucks on a set of pruning shears and stepping outside to get face-to-face with the likes of a rosebush or a cherry tree.

See those dead twigs cluttering up the main trunk and branches? Those are things both mental and physical that no longer serve you and are better cleared out and left behind.

That ivy that has creeped up the trunk and is slowly strangling the life force from the flowers? Those are bad habits you can prune away to make room for beneficial behaviors.

Weak, ineffectual branches that steal the sunshine, suck up the oxygen, and sap the life force when they cross the main stem? Those are your false starts, passing fancies, and unfinished projects that are better left forgotten.

If your soul is rooted in nourishing soil and your goals are clear and reaching for the skies, your dreams will flower and your life will be beautiful!

(How’s that for a sales pitch? All you had to do was put on your gloves and grab the clippers!)

If you don’t have easy access to a garden or saplings or shrubbery, a great shortcut to the crux of this philosophy is to be had by watching the film Being There, based on the short novel by Jerzy Kosiński.

Without giving away the plot, it’s the story of Chance, the gardener, (aka Chauncey Gardiner), achieving great things and remarkable adventures largely due to his simple understanding of how things work in the garden.

And with that, I will leave you with your metaphorical clippers in hand until next week!

Tous mes vœux vous accompagnent jusqu’à lundi prochain!

M+

Mark Metz
Director of the Dance First Association
Publisher of Conscious Dancer Magazine