I’m really loving spring here in Northern California – all the new growth and warmer weather! I’m enjoying the return of the hummingbirds, the appearance of deer grazing in our back yard, and especially the colorful flowers that have started blooming.
We don’t get a lot of wildflowers here because there’s too much shade, but these yellow monkeyflowers, are popping up all over the place! Their vibrant colors are such a contrast to the varying shades of greens and browns.
Yellow monkeyflowers have been one of my favorite flowers for almost as long as I can remember. They just ooze the joy and new life of springtime, and I love their hardiness and spunk as they sprout out of the steep sides of the mountains. Several times in the past 10+ years I’ve tried to grow them in my yard, but to no avail. I’ve purchased them from the local nursery and researched just how and where to plant them. I’ve carefully watered and cared for them as perfectly as I could. And as I’d go out and check on them each day, I’d inevitably watch them wither and die.
But yet, here they are, blooming and thriving without any care or worry on my part. I may never know what I did wrong when I tried to grow them, but I do know that I can enjoy them now when I do have the chance to see them as I walk and drive along through the mountains.
Our lives are full of ups and downs, adventures and challenges. Whether it’s health challenges, financial difficulties, or watching those we love struggle, we want to jump in “fix the problem”. Just like planting those monkeyflowers in my yard, we try hard to do everything just right and control all the variables. But no matter how hard we try to “fix the problem”, things may still not change to what we want them to be.
Perhaps the answer is to stop trying so hard; to just relax and let go. When we’re working to force something to be what we want it to be, we trigger our stress response. This can release a cascade of physical, mental, and emotional changes that contribute to even more stress. When we let go of forcing or controlling the situation and just relax, we’re free to feel at peace with what is. We’re able to let go of heavy expectations, to feel peace and joy in the moment, and to form deep meaningful connections with those around us.
As you go through your day today, I invite you to become aware of areas where you’ve held on to those heavy expectations and felt the pressure to fix the problems. Whether it’s a walk in nature, some time to meditate, or just a few deep breaths, let go of working so hard and take a few minutes to relax into the moment and enjoy what is.
I’d love to hear what you came up with!
