With gentleness, there is room for both strength and care. There is room for looking ahead while also embracing a slow and steady path. Like a garden’s ecosystem that is able to be sustained through gentle interactions over time, you, too, can nurture steady growth over time.
You don’t have to force everything into neat rows; instead, you could allow aspects of your life to grow in harmony with the surroundings.
Rather than focusing solely on rapid progress, you can cultivate a range of experiences that all bloom in their own time. Instead of striving for perfection, you could let your journey unfold organically and beautifully.
While there will be areas in life where urgency is necessary, there may also be areas where a slower, gentle approach could be welcomed. Welcome this kind of gentleness however you can. Consider these journaling prompts to help you get started:
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-Regular Prompt: What future achievements do you strive for?
-Gentle Alternative: How can you work towards mountain-like endeavors while being kind to yourself?
-Regular Prompt: What are your goals for the next year?
-Gentle Alternative: What small efforts can you make toward the things that are becoming increasingly important, over the course of the next year?
-Regular Prompt: What skills do you want to learn in the future?
-Gentle Alternative: How can you slowly explore new practices or activities that build bridges and make connections that you’d like to make?
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There is nothing wrong with the original prompts; however, if you ever find yourself getting stuck, you’re allowed to go beyond them. Just like a gardener adjusting their approach based on what the plants need, you can modify your prompts to suit what you need. And this something you can do through subtle shifts, over time,
On the surface, these subtle shifts may seem like a matter of semantics or word choice. However, the specificity here allows for a more considerate approach to life in which you can welcome gentleness. Like choosing the right soil, thoughtful language can support steady and expansive growth. Welcome gentleness however you can. – Morgan Harper Nichols
