When working harder isn’t working for you, it’s time to try a different approach.

This past week, I noticed the plants in my wife’s garden suddenly burst into life after weeks of what seemed like slow or even stalled progress. Everything seemed to shoot up almost overnight, exploding in vibrant greens. Seeing how quickly this growth happened reminded me of how impatient I can often be with myself, frustrated by the sense that I should be further along in realizing my goals and objectives.

It’s tempting to believe the solution to achieving more is simply to work harder, to apply more grit and willpower. And while those qualities are important, there’s a hard limit to what sheer effort can accomplish on its own. Growth, whether personal or professional, follows natural rhythms that we can’t simply force or accelerate through sheer determination. We cling to effort, feeling it’s something within our control.

Think of yourself as a gardener tending to plants. Yelling at your tomatoes or flowers, demanding they grow faster, sounds ridiculous. Yet this is precisely how many of us treat ourselves (myself included!). We push harder, judge ourselves harshly, and wonder why we aren’t seeing the results we expect. But just as plants grow naturally when the right conditions are met, your work and life also flourish best when you create an environment conducive to growth.

What does that environment look like? Here are some critical factors to consider:

Nutrition matters. Eating well isn’t about vanity; it’s about fuelling your brain and body for sustained energy, clarity, and productivity. Without proper nourishment, growth stalls.
You need space and time to think. Growth demands reflection and intention. If you’re always moving, always busy, always reacting, you won’t have the space to connect ideas, develop unique insights, or chart the optimal path forward.
Learn to respond rather than react. Mindfulness allows you to pause, consider, and make intentional choices. Impulsive reactions often sabotage your best efforts, steering you off-course.
Regularly reflect on your work and life. This one is especially important. Without taking time to evaluate what’s working and what’s not, you risk continuing to invest energy into conditions that actively undermine your growth.
Surround yourself with the right people. Just like certain seeds need the right type of soil, and some plants thrive best alongside compatible companions, your environment needs supportive, nourishing relationships. Choosing who you spend your time with can profoundly influence your trajectory, either accelerating your growth or limiting it.
Nurturing isn’t enough; you also need to pull weeds. Actively remove distractions, unhealthy habits, or negative influences in your life. Creating space and clarity often involves pruning away what’s holding you back, even if it’s uncomfortable at first.
Lastly, respect your seasons. Just as every plant has dormant periods when roots quietly deepen beneath the surface, you will have seasons of less visible progress. These moments aren’t setbacks, but serve as critical development phases. Learn to recognize and appreciate these quiet periods as essential, not wasted time.

Watching my wife’s garden reminded me again that growth usually feels slow at first and then suddenly accelerates once conditions fully align. Instead of beating yourself up for not growing fast enough, shift your focus. Cultivate the environment and the relationships that will naturally foster your growth, give yourself patience and grace, and let the results unfold naturally.

Quotation I’ve Been Pondering

“The fundamentals: Something many people know, but few people practice.” — James Clear

Journal Prompt

“What is the quiet voice within you trying to tell you about where you’re forcing something that isn’t ready yet, or just isn’t right for you? Where might you need to soften your grip and trust yourself instead?”

Until next week!!

Work and live well.

Tim

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