2020 has been one helluva year for all of us. It has been a year of trials and tribulations. One obstacle after another testing our very patience. With that being said, with so much going on around us in this crazy ass world, one could find it easy to lose track of themselves amongst the chaos.
Last week, a colleague of mine shared this group activity, and it sure as hell hit home. It was called “The Integrity Flower.” Basically, the center of the flower and its stem provide the flower with a central grounding firmly into the soil. If we were the flower, our core beliefs and values that we hold true compose of this center. It holds us together and grounds us in reality.
Then, there are the petals reaching well beyond the center, stem, and leaves. They touch and influence the environment around them with their beautiful colors and sweet aroma. For us, the petals represent our actions. Our stem and center branch out to the rest of the environment and others through our actions.
The expectation is that the petals match up with the stem. When these two are not in line with each other, internal struggle ensues.
What I love about this metaphor is how it highlights things we are in control of. We can certainly be mindful of our core values, beliefs, personality traits, etc. We are in control of how we act, our decisions, and our reactions. With the crazy would we live in today, it is more important now than ever to keep these things in mind.
Therefore, ensure your petals match up with your stem. Reduce this internal struggle the best that you can. Help yourself to feel more in line with who you are.
-The Caring Counselor