What My Houseplant Taught Me About Me

September 17, 2021

I’ve recently taken to caring for houseplants. My grandmother was an amazing houseplant caregiver, and I always admired her green thumb, but tbh, I’d been intimated by the hobby myself.

This past Mother’s Day, my kids gave me a beautiful and vibrant Fiddle Leaf Fig. I have heard they are finicky and hard to care for, but I was committed to keeping it alive and thriving. (My daughter who just graduated from college is convinced that I am replacing my kids with plants. Interesting observation, I might add) 

In a few short months Freddie, my Fiddle Leaf Fig, began to wilt and drop its leaves.

Knowing that our lives are fertile ground for growth–pun intended–here is what I learned about myself as a result.

I could see my patterns arise immediately.

When I first noticed early signs of distress – the browning leaves – I ignored them, rooted in the thought: “It’s nothing, it will figure itself out.”  

This is a very old and familiar pattern. It’s a way I have dealt with past challenges.When a difficult or overwhelming situation or issue shows up,I have been known to put my head in the sand and ignore it, hoping it will just resolve itself.

Soon all the leaves began to drop, until only one was left.

OOPS. Not resolving itself, for sure.

Even though this single leaf was hanging on for dear life, I was about to give up on it, thinking I’d killed it and should just replace the entire plant.

Then I noticed something in my body.

My whole body tightened when I thought about replacing Freddie. I just could not in good conscience give up on this plant that had been entrusted to me and “just get another one.”  

Instead, I saw this plant situation as the universe offering me an opportunity to evolve, to practice shifting my patterns – my ways of being – and co-create new possibilities.

This plant was here to teach me something about me. It was a gift on many levels.

What I did next.

I introduced a few pattern disrupters.

Rather than ignore what was occurring, I FACED it. The leaves are browning and falling and something needs to be done. 

I accepted that something needed to change, and that I could not keep doing the same thing with the plant and expecting a different result.

I reached out to experts for advice. I certainly don’t have all the answers, and it is ok to ask for help when you need it.

I became open and curious. I listened to and connected to the plant and asked what it needed. Slowly, it began to speak to me. Seriously: it began telling me what it needed, and I obeyed it, even if it didn’t make perfect sense to me.

The magical and mystical truth bomb is this:

LIFE IS ALWAYS TALKING TO YOU, AND YOUR ONLY JOB IS TO LEARN TO LISTEN.

After learning a few things from the experts, I was told to give Freddie some time, attention, and love, and that he would come back to life. 

I just needed to be patient. (Yup, another big life lesson knocking at my door.)

It wasn’t long before I began to see how Freddie the Fiddle Leaf Fig was here to teach me a few things about me.

Freddie reminded me that my old patterns do not serve me, my relationships, or those I love.

For Freddie, I had to change the conditions to give him a chance to thrive. 

• • • First, I had to actually face and admit there was a problem and that I could not ignore it. It needed my attention
      
    • Then I needed to change what I was doing to create a NEW result
      
    • Lastly I needed to be patient for those changes to take effect.

I then began to look inward for those relationships in my life that may feel like they’re on their last legs, ready to die, or that I am ready to give up on.

I started to wonder what I needed to face in those relationships, what I could change, and I asked spirit for the patience required for my changes to take effect.

THIS is how I become the empowered co-creator I am here to be.

This too is who YOU are here to be.

How is your everyday life leading you to a deeper truth?  

I invite you to take a closer look this week and let the magic that is arising unfold in you.

How is the universe speaking to you?

Whether it’s through a plant, a flat tire, a missed meeting, a wrong turn, a sickness, an unexpected gift, or an interaction with someone you love, open yourself up to the message beyond the circumstance…

EVERYTHING in your life and in your relationships is here FOR you, and for your awakening.

NOW is the time to wake up and embrace your role of co-creator

With gratitude and love,

Annmarie Chereso
Author, Speaker, Coach, & Meditation Teacher