Ronetta J Francis

Bloom Where You are Planted Ronetta J Francis

What does it mean to Bloom Where You Are Planted?The phrase is not new and been interpreted to mean that one should make the most of what they have and play the cards that have been dealt; to pull oneself up by their bootstraps; to basically "Suck it up, buttercup." While the phrase can certainly have these connotations, the fundamental sentiment is consistent and has not changed. Though I didn't realize it at the time, the seeds for the Bloom Where You Are Planted philosophy of transformational change - the seeds of Faith, Positive Attitude, Gratitude, and Hard Work had been deeply embedded within my core value system at an early age. These core values that I would turn to time and time again - whenever faced with a challenge, life decision, etc. There is a common belief that if one is dissatisfied with some aspect of their life, they should do something about it; that if you just do something different, then a different result will surely follow. Yet, in order to bring about authentic change, tone must go through an internal transformation: the seeds for greater growth and development must be planted and nurtured, changing the essence of our being - our beliefs, our thoughts - before we can have our full bloom. Growth requires change. Nothing can grow unchanged. You cannot go through an experience great or small, wonderful or unpleasant and remain the same. Each experience molds us and shapes us. What shape we take on, how we evolve as go through each experience, is up to us. We may not always be able to control those experiences we may face. In those circumstances, rather than looking for ways to change our experiences or our environment, the challenge - and the basis of authentic transformational change - is to change our perspective on those experiences, assess and take ownership of how we are contributing to the experience and to release those negative influences (internal and external) that no longer serve us, thereby allowing us to learn and grow from each experience. In essence, to Bloom Where You Are Planted is to grow through what you go through.