What Weeds Can Teach Us about Compassion
What is a weed??
I used to live at a meditation and martial arts school. We would often sit with the headmaster, sipping warm jiaogulan tea on a cool morning, discussing our relationship with nature and self. On several mornings, we spoke of weeds.
Our cultural narrative tells us that we need to uproot weeds so that the flowers of our garden can grow. Metaphorically, that can means eliminating limiting beliefs, breaking through impostor syndrome or overcoming personal or professional barriers.
But weeds are misunderstood.
Weeds are pioneer plants.?
Whenever an ecosystem undergoes a shock and the ground is no longer hospitable for plants and other life, weeds move in to protect the topsoil (which erodes everyday).
They nourish that topsoil, providing nutrients and protecting it from future shock. They create fertile ground for biodiversity, providing sustenance for plants, animals and human beings the world over.
Our lives are a soil. And trauma, heartbreak, loss and unexpected transitions in and out of the workplace are a shock to our fertile ground. In those moments, our own weeds will naturally arise. They protect us so that compassion, potential and new opportunity may spring again.?
Sometimes we might develop habits that seem frustrating or counterproductive. Not speaking up when we should. Being afraid to ask for what we’re worth. Hesitating to reach out to that person who has already offered their help.?
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It might seem like we just need to get rid of these annoying habits – these weeds holding us back. But sometimes these are our internal adaptations protecting us from future shock.
I’ve grappled with endless fields of my own weeds. And I’ve learned that everything has a time. And when it's time to replant our fruits, we can ask ourselves which weeds will continue to provide support and which will leech our nutrients.?
It doesn't always require force. Many weeds stop growing when they are underneath a healthy plant. In the same way, we can grow the good habits that will nourish our new seasons.?
Don’t be too harsh on yourself for times when unhelpful adaptations show up. Meet them with understanding. At some point, they served a necessary purpose.?
A patch of land that has no weeds is not thriving – it’s dead.
We need weeds. They help to keep part of our spirit wild. And when we look upon them in a new light – they can be quite beautiful.?
Administrator at Precious care Inc
2 年Weeds can be such a blessing, prime examples are dandelion, sheep Sorrell and nettle. It all grows wild here on my five acres!
Organizational efficiency and effectiveness practitioner
2 年A lot of the comments missed the point of this piece. It's not about weeds. It's about looking at our trauma responses in a different way. I never considered the correlation between weeds and my response to trauma. It's an interesting thought piece but I would like to see it fleshed out a little more so I could better wrap my mind around this concept.
Master Gardener with the Penn State University Extension with an interest in speaking about soil development, ISO 9001-2015 Quality Management Consultant and Lead Auditor
2 年There are a lot of plants we call "weeds" that indeed edible and nutritious. Some are so good for you and are delicious if prepare properly. Since I have explored the weeds in my yard, I am much more tolerant of there presence. Some are so good and nutritious that we look forward to there arrival.
Professionally trained artist skilled in various media; expertise in graphic design, museum education, community outreach, etc. Walt Disney World Marketing Awards, US Lighthouse Society publication feature & award.
2 年Interesting parallels
This seems more like a slight against using lawn chemicals in cities than appreciation of nature. I can agree that in nature a weed can seem beautiful, but it is always out of place on a lawn or garden.