Claire Henderson Growing Inspirations

In order to create what we'd love for ourselves and to break the pattern of primarily meeting obligations and the needs of others, we need to engage our heart.

We can't start the path to any destination without first knowing where it is that we'd love to go.
Once we have a clear vision, the path begins to unfold in front of us.

When you were young, did you hear “You need to work hard to get what you want in life”.
Have you tried it?
I did. I watched my parents work hard, often doing two jobs to make enough to support our large family.
I accepted it was the necessary thing to do in order to get what you wanted. I had a lot more opportunity than my parents, but since I wanted more than they were content with, I figured I’d put in the hard yards to get the renovated house and the regular holidays away and music lessons for my kids…..
Then, like me, you probably heard that it’s not about working harder, we should be working smarter…..
Oh, good to know…I’ll try that.
I knew how to work hard, but this new bit I wasn’t sure about.
So I did a business course….a mindset course….a money mastery course….personal development courses (I’ve lost count).
I gained plenty of tips and met lots of interesting people, but I was still working hard… Apart from anything else, I had to work to earn the money to pay for all the courses…. 😳🤦‍♀️
I kept being sure there was a way, that life didn’t have to be all hard work, but I just couldn’t figure out how to change what was happening in my life.
Then I learned that what I thought I was focusing on wasn’t what I was focusing on. That I can connect with my heart and what I really want to share with the world, and use my inner wisdom to guide me to creating what I love.
I love sharing that knowledge and understanding and helping others to step into their vision, and the wisdom they have within to bring it to the world.
I’m prepared to do all sorts of work to help more people, because it makes my heart sing. But it really doesn’t feel like hard work at all. I find it energising and inspiring.
So it’s not about working harder, or working smarter… It’s really about working from the heart. ❤️

When I arrived at the pool this morning, Max the duty manager was talking to some grumpy people in the walking lane who were complaining that the water was too cold. He was saying “It’s 30.3 which is the regulation temperature. Whenever it’s warmer than this, it’s just a bonus.”

I reflected that a few months ago it was me complaining “How are we supposed to swim laps when it’s so hot we could be soaking in a bath?!

Max was equally firm that the temperature varied a bit but basically I should just suck it up!

Which led me to a reminder that when we’re doing work that is meaningful for us, not everyone is going to like it. I hold myself back from doing things like posts on Facebook, when I think of what people will think of the post, of me…….

So I don’t do what I want to do in order to reach more people and share the knowledge that I’ve gained over years of study and life experience.

I know how powerful and transformative this work is when I’m coaching people, and for myself, and I really want to share it with as many people as I can. That’s what my heart is calling me to do.

And then when it’s time to take the next step towards that, it is so easy to go into the small part of me that fears the disapproval or rejection of others. And not take action.

So here I am to invite you to do what I’m doing now - take the uncomfortable but important steps instead of holding back in fear.

Some people will like what I do, some won’t. It’s me I have to live with.

And I know that I am loved at a deep level by life itself, and I am receiving opportunities to follow my heart constantly.

So why not just go for it?

Bulbs are an act of faith. We plant these onion like or tuberous lumps in the soil, then see nothing for perhaps months, then a shoot appears, and another, then a flower stalk or two....and if we're blessed, a display like this one.

It doesn't require us to be strong or good or helpful or organised, or any of the other qualities we think stand between us and what we'd love.

It just requires us to have a vision of what we'd like to see in the future, and to take steps towards that. Buy the bulbs, plant them, water them, maybe feed them a bit...
And then the vision splendid appears.

And the next bit is where it gets really exciting. After our early efforts, things can grow beyond what we'd first imagined, without us having to do as much work as we did in the initial phase.

What would you love to grow for yourself?

Two Magnolias blooming in the same street. Same family, same variety.....each a bit unique.
No comparison, not trying to be anything other than their true expression of life.
We are each called to do the same - to be the full expression of who we truly are - in our essence, in our heart.