Give Up the Shit That Weighs You Down.

Toni Morrison said, “If you wanna fly, you gotta give up the shit that weighs you down.” ✨

Life transitions are weird. You are not only always becoming, but so is everyone else. Sometimes evolution feels like you’re in this thing on your own, but you’re not! I'm a plant mom, and one thing about plants, they will let you know when something is no longer serving them, whether its where they're located, their watering routine, the soil they are in, or even the temperature. I learn so many lessons from plants.

Lessons from plants

Pruning is the process of clipping dead ends. Clipping the dead ends results in new growth and fruits. As I care for my plants, I learn so much about them, but so much about myself too. Like patience, plants require patience. Just like us, they have to adapt to their environments, but sometimes pruning isn't enough, and you realize the plant may be rootbound.

Root bound

A plant becomes rootbound when its roots no longer have room to expand or grow. If a plant becomes rootbound, it must be relocated to a new better suited pot. Just like plants, we too can become rootbound. We can begin to feel as if we no longer have room to grow or expand. It is then that we must also be relocated to a better suited pot. Lean into the changes or shifts in your environment, in your circles, in your career, and even in your mindset.

Repotting

I have been reading the Believing Bigger devotional and it has truly changed my life. I spoke about it and the Faith Talks group chat on this post. By simply changing my mindset, I am exposed to believing bigger in every way. While believing bigger sounds great, it’s hard messy work.

Repotting can get messy, and downright dirty. Something my mommy and I laugh about the fact that sometimes after repotting, the plant might still die. Bummer. Even when you are in a new place, a new position in life, know that some things still must come to an end. The repotting process is messy. It can be extremely uncomfortable, it can even hurt, but after some TLC, the plant can go on to thrive, and bear many fruits or flowers, and so can you. ✨

Harvest

Harvest is defined as the season for gathering in agricultural crops; a mature crop; and an accumulated store or productive result.

I think of harvest as blessings. Nothing great comes without sacrifice and work. The seeds that we sow will produce fruits. For instance, if you sow negativity, you will reap negativity. If you sow forgiveness and kindness, you will reap grace and mercy.

For the past three years, I have been working towards both building my business, a media production company aimed at highlighting and amplifying Black girls, women, and gender nonconforming people and obtaining my law degree.

Both have required a lot of time management, vulnerability, and retraining my thoughts (most times on a moment by moment basis). It has not been easy, but the harvest has been abundant. I have seen growth in myself as a woman, as a business woman, and as an influencer in my communities.

A lesson that I am still learning is that seeds sown today will not reap fruits tomorrow, but the work that you do daily to nurture, to water, and even the maintenance (repotting, more light, or pruning) will produce fruits.

What Weighs You Down?

For so long, I have allowed doubt, fear, and perfectionism to weigh me down. I have often found myself shrinking so others can feel comfortable. I can often become so fearful of the what-if’s that I become frozen by fear. I also fear rejection. When I am frozen I don’t share my thoughts, my works, or my ideas when this happens and that is definitely weighing me down.

I get so caught up in perfectionism. This is a toxic mindset and often leads me to setting unrealistic expectations for myself and others. To combat perfectionism, I am being intentional about allowing myself and others to just be them. I am learning to release control and to do the best I can and release the rest.

Radical Reflection:

Whew, now that I’ve poured out my heart, what‘s the shit that’s weighing you down and how are you intentionally combating it?

How are you getting free today? Let us know 👇🏾

With love,