What is bamboo growth? The bamboo plant is known to be a beautifully strong and resilient plant. Did you know that bamboo takes about 5 years growing underground before shooting up, bursting through the surface at a rate of up to 1 ½ inches per hour, which is almost 3 feet per day!
When you see any beautiful tree around you, do you see how the tree came to be? No, because the process of its growth is micro, yet it still came to be.
Just like bamboo, in some seasons in your life, you are that seed that is growing underneath the surface. You may feel during these seasons that you aren’t seeing any results. You think because people aren’t giving you the validation that you seek, that what you are doing is not amounting to anything.
You may be feeling stagnant energy, or you may be procrastinating. You may go on social media and see how other people are hitting it big or living the dreams you’re still chasing. They may have gotten lucky, yes, or maybe you didn’t see the years of bamboo growth they had to undergo to get to where they are today.
Just like no one may notice your efforts you put in day in and day out, you can’t always see other’s behind the scenes efforts. However, I know how hard it is, to constantly see others being able to quit their 9–5 jobs to pursue their passion, or maybe they’re getting married, traveling the world, having babies, getting their dream home, landing their dream job, etc.
It can be hard because it often reminds you of how far behind you feel. It makes you question whether you are still on the right path because you aren’t seeing the fruits of your labor yet. This is normal, and everyone goes through this. You are always growing, but sometimes your growth goes unseen.
This season is called bamboo growth, and it is necessary. You see there is something special about this season of going unnoticed, because you have to build belief in yourself even if no one else gives you the affirmations. In these moments of scarcity, you are generating faith within yourself and in the Universe.
If you have a dream that you are trying to build, it’s going to take faith, it’s going to take resilience, and it’s going to take strength. How does that happen? It happens in the seasons of going unnoticed.
If you hit it off really big right off the bat, following your dreams and getting the fame, recognition or wealth you desire instantly with no struggle, of course that would be amazing, but where would the story of strength behind it be? Where would the story of resilience and perseverance be? Those kinds of stories breed true inspiration, not the quick route to fame.
Going unnoticed generates strength and resilience within you, because you have two options in those moments when it’s just you and a dream, you can either quit, or you can continue to go for it.
Everyone goes through periods of self doubt and falling down, but every time you get yourself back up, brush yourself off and keep going, what does that do? It strengthens your will power. It strengthens your resilience. It strengthens your self belief.
You will eventually see after going through these bamboo seasons in your life that you will blossom and bear the fruits of your labor.
The experiences you go through activate these characteristics. When no one else believes in your dream or sees the vision that you hold, but you continue forward, what does that do? It builds belief in yourself, strength, courage, and resilience.
No one can see inside your heart, so you cannot expect others to truly understand the dream that’s inside, until you bring it into reality. Do not fear making mistakes along the way, as sometimes your best ideas can be born through making an error.
These spaces of bamboo growth serve us, so that we can show up in the world and be our best selves. Resilience is a beautiful energy. Strength and courage are beautiful energies. These energies nourish us and give us the tools we need to keep pushing forward.
Below are five beautiful ways to help you get through the bamboo seasons in your life. These gentle yet powerful pieces of advice will help support, inspire, and encourage you along the way as you build and grow towards your dreams.
Celebrate yourself
It can be easy to get caught up in the daily hustle of the tasks that need to get done towards chasing your goals and dreams, that you forget to look back and appreciate how far you have come. It’s so important to celebrate yourself along the way and the hurdles that you have overcome. It’s equally important and essential to celebrate the small wins along the way.
Each time you take a moment to pause to celebrate yourself, you help build confidence and appreciation for the hard work you are putting in. You are always farther along than you realize, but it can be easy to forget.
To help circumvent getting discouraged, celebrate yourself along the journey. You can mark these events on your calendar or as a reminder on your phone. Treat yourself in small or even big ways depending on how small or big your win was. You never need an excuse to treat yourself, but making an effort to do so, especially when you’ve hit a small or big goal, is essential for your self belief and recognizing how far you’ve come.
Reach out for support
The bamboo stage of your journey can feel long and discouraging at times. In these moments when you’re still underneath the soil cultivating a dream, reach out for support. This can be through friends, family, loved ones or even support groups.
Having someone to lean on and talk to will really help you not feel so alone. Its a stage everyone goes through, but not everyone talks about. You only see the end result of people’s accomplishments, never the day in and day out actions taken to get there.
Talking to others who are where you want to be can also help you along your journey. They can help validate that you are on the right path and even light the way.
Be comfortable with being uncomfortable
To move beyond your limits and insecurities, it takes being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Especially in the beginning stages of something. When you fear discomfort, you fear your own growth and you limit yourself. However, you can nudge yourself into the discomfort by reminding yourself that there is a gift in it.
This season is teaching you, molding you, and refining you. This is an opportunity for growth. Start small. Overcome the small things that make you feel uncomfortable, which will build the confidence you need to pursue the bigger things that scare you.
You have the ability within you to be more than you even realize you are. You know that right? You may say, “I’m not a creative person”, or “I’m too shy”, etc. The way we think of ourselves is usually in a limited form. If you make a mistake, don’t let it discourage you. Know that each one brings opportunities for yourself and others.
If you stay completely in your comfort zone, you will never know how big your soul and evolution was meant to expand.
Your intuition will give you the nudge in the direction you need to go. When you feel that push or that pull, know there is something in that guidance that is leading you down the right path. Lean into it, no matter the discomfort. This guidance comes from a loving place, helping you become and bloom into the best version of yourself.
A breakthrough is about to come
Clarity often arrives after you’ve been wrestling the mind. Some of your biggest creative breakthroughs can come through deep periods of procrastination and frustration. Remember that you have everything that you need to succeed in this moment. You will never be placed in a situation that you cannot either thrive or learn from. Every situation has an offering, a teaching, and a message.
Remember that you have more power than you realize, and that your inner treasures are where your true value comes from. Lean into your inner source of power and strength during this season. Your intuition is always your guiding light that you are on the right path.
When you are feeling discouraged, remember that it is the darkest hour just before the dawn breaks and it is in darkness that the seed is cultivated just before bursting through the earth to bloom. It is also in darkness that the caterpillar labors through the cocoon to become a butterfly.
A breakthrough is about to come. Know it, believe it, affirm it.
Affirm: whatever is for me, will be, whatever is not I set free.
Rest with intention
Ask yourself, what do you need to do to nourish yourself in the right way to allow the energy to flow again? Recognize when your mind feels too chaotic so you have the awareness to recenter yourself before accomplishing the tasks that will get you further along on your journey.
You have the power to change how you feel. Instead of beating yourself up over not keeping up with the pace you have set, reevaluate your goals and yourself. Everyday you have the ability to cultivate the best version of yourself by taking care of your energy and what you need to do in order to feel your best. You have the ability to heal. You have the ability to take care of yourself. You have the ability to pick yourself up.
Practice activities such as meditation, journaling, reading or meditative exercises like qigong or yoga. Take naps during the day if you need to and your schedule allows. Go for a walk or just spend time in nature to reset your energy. Whatever you need to do to feel rejuvenated again, rest with intention, and the energy you need will start to flow again.
Final Thoughts
Have gratitude for where you are today, but know this is not your final form. Far too often you put way too much pressure on yourself to be at a certain level or to have achieved a certain status or accomplishment. Don’t allow yourself to compare yourself to other people’s journey as we are all along a different path.
You are further along than you realize, so allow yourself to celebrate the small wins along the way. This builds confidence. Tune into your energy and give yourself permission to rest when you need it. This allows stagnant energy to flow again. Learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. This builds belief in yourself and strength.
Lastly, know that a breakthrough is about to come. The darkest hours of any journey always comes right before the quantum leap to achieving a dream. You will get through this season, and when your vision finally becomes reality, you will look back and realize you have such an inspiring story to tell.
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