Plant Therapy
Plant people are happy people...
Have I ever been a plant person? Heck no!! I’ve never had a green thumb AND I am one of those people who say “I’ve even killed a succulent!”. I have since become a lover of plants and a bona fide plant mama. I have cared for plants, grown new plants, multiplied plants (aka propagation), and even saved plants from dying!
You might be wondering how I went from succulent killing non-plant person to a proud plant mama. Here’s how…During my own healing journey, when I was going through a major life transition, I visited a local nursery and bought a fiddle leaf fig tree. Now I know what my folks in the plant community might be saying…“oh heck no, not a fiddle”. Well hear me out. At the time I was not as well-versed in plants as I am now. What I did know was that fiddles are popular houseplants used to accentuate living spaces. Faux fiddles can run upwards of a few hundred, but the real ones range around $25. So, why not?! Mind you, at the time I really didn't grasp what this tree would mean to me, and how it would play a part in my healing journey.
Shego
Struggling
to Grow...
...Shego
Thriving!
Anywho, back to the story. My fiddle was short but lush with vibrant green leaves. As she became taller, I even named her Shego on account of her green color (millennials IYKYK). During the cooler months, she was doing beautifully. Fast forward to Summer time in the Miami heat and my poor fiddle was struggling! Her leaves were getting scorched by the Sun and her growth was stunted.
Shego looked like she wouldn’t make it, but I could see she was fighting to survive. She didn’t give up, so I wasn’t about to give up on her. I paid attention to what she needed and with time, patience, and the proper care, she has defied all odds and flourished beautifully. Shego has grown taller than me, currently standing at over 7 feet! This fiddle has proven to be resilient. And like her, I realized that I managed to do the same. As I was tending to my fiddle leaf fig tree, helping her to survive, heal, and grow, I was healing. Shego, my fiddle leaf fig tree is my healing plant, because she and I have been on a healing journey together, with its ups and downs. Today, we are strong, resilient, and an absolute force to be reckoned with. No, seriously! People cannot believe she’s a real tree and that makes me one proud plant mama. And as for me, I've managed to hold on to the light within me and grow in love for who I am and who I continue to become everyday. Hence the name Love & Light Journey. If you have read this far, thank you for listening, as in reading the words of my voice. My own personal experience is what inspired the idea of plant therapy…
I've managed to hold on to the light within me and grow in love for who I am and who I continue to become everyday.
Shego
Taller
Than Me!
Introducing plant therapy, an adjunct therapeutic component of your therapy here at Love & Light Journey. What does it entail you ask? With plant therapy, clients take care of a plant as part of their healing journey. We can learn a lot from plants - they have needs just like us, and when a plant’s needs are not met, their growth is hindered. As plants go through different transitions, they also experience a type of trauma…their leaves may wilt and growth may slow, but with the proper nurturing, they will heal and thrive. You could say, plants go through their own 'Love & Light Journey'.
By caring for a plant, we are subconsciously taught to trust the process during both beautiful AND ugly seasons of growth. Just because things don’t look pretty, doesn’t mean there's no growth! Plants need time, patience, and nurturing to flourish. Showing your plant the love that it needs, organically teaches you how to love yourself and how to be patient and mindful of your own needs. Just the simple act of nurturing a plant is therapeutic. It helps you to be mindfully present in the moment and instills a sense of joy and peace. Your healing plant, as I like to call it, will be a physical representation of your healing journey, serving as a reminder that you can get through anything. And just knowing this, empowers you to grow from the scars of your past into the person you envision yourself to be…the person you CHOOSE to be.
Showing your plant
the love that it needs, organically teaches you how to love yourself and how to be patient and mindful of your own needs.
Remember when I said, plant people are happy people?
Here are some facts on how plants make us happy!
Have you ever wondered why your mood is elevated when you’re immersed in nature? So many of us are surrounded by ever-increasing urban development. We see less greenery in our daily routines unless we intentionally seek the outdoors or implement greenery into our work and living spaces. White walls and concrete do very little for our mood. Incorporating plants into our environments is a good way to expose ourselves to nature and give us the energy boost that we need…aside from the coffee pick-me-up, that is! So, did you know that we are naturally driven to seek out nature and other living organisms?
During my time studying I/O Psychology (Industrial and Organizational Psychology), I learned how companies and organizations work with I/O Psychologists to create healthier work environments that improve employee well-being. Interestingly enough, I was pleased to learn about the interior design trends involving biophilic design in workspaces to improve cognitive performance (focus and productivity), promote positive emotions, and reduce stress. If you do a quick Google search, you will see biophilia, derived from Greek origin, means love of life. Merriam Webster defines biophilia as the “human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature”. According to Psychology Today, the term is said to have been coined by psychologist Erich Fromm, but gained wide recognition in 1984 after Harvard biologist Dr. Edward O. Wilson’s publication of his book Biophilia. As humans, we have a biological need to connect with plants and animals. Biophilic design aims to satisfy this need by incorporating natural elements and green spaces, such as green walls, into our constructed spaces. You can read more about biophilic design here.
Numerous studies have been conducted demonstrating the positive effects plants have on our mental, emotional, and physical health. Our happiness, according to one study, is closely connected to nature, in that when we are connected to nature, our mood, cognition (mental processing of information), vitality, and overall health and well-being is improved.
It is said that just looking at plants can have a calming effect on us, bringing down the body’s stress levels and reducing negative emotions such as sadness and anxiety. Several Japanese studies have corroborated these findings. In another study, researchers were on a mission to find ways to combat physiological and psychological stress through plant interaction. By having groups of participants engage in interchanging activities with indoor plants (calming task) and computers (mental task), researchers found that plant interaction reduces physiological and psychological stress as the therapeutic action of potting a plant reduces blood pressure levels and suppresses the sympathetic nervous system. When assessed, participants identified being in a tranquil state.
I for one can attest to these findings as I sit here typing and conducting research (performing mental tasks), looking at the delicate leaves of my money tree (pachira aquatica) swaying in the breeze. Her name is Leilani, for those wondering. I can’t help but smile and feel an immediate sense of tranquility looking at my little tree. Every new sprout that emerges from her stems brings me such joy - it never ceases to amaze me. I also have a deep appreciation of how delicate yet sturdy the money tree is with its papery thin leaves I can see through and the thick braided trunk standing strong.
The benefits to working with plants and incorporating them into our living and working spaces are truly endless. Not to mention, they teach us so many things!...how to heal, grow, and be grateful for our own love and light journeys. Flashback for a moment to Karate Kid, Mr. Miyagi’s saying “wax on, wax off”. While it was teaching the young warrior blocking techniques, the practices Mr. Miyagi incorporated, represented a deeper meaning, the importance of patience, repetition (practice and consistency), and trusting the process.
