Do you remember your excitement, when at primary school you grew your first ever plant from seed? Mine was cress, little dots of what reminded me of ground pepper, carefully placed within an old eggshell, sitting on a simple bed of moist cotton wool. The outer shell, complete with a blue felt-tipped smiley face… and then the sheer delight of actual plump cress!

And then, when I was six, from another small seed, I grew my first sunny-faced Sunflower. Planting it coincided with a children’s book I’d just discovered: Jack & The Beanstalk. I read it over, and over, whilst checking-up on the progress of my germinating flower; fueled by the encouragement of the story itself. Every day I would marvel, watching it form, and then at its incredible height. The face of my flower, grew almost to the same size as mine; from such a tiny beginning – barely bigger than my thumbnail…

Whether you are starting something new from scratch, or need to implement changes in your life that will strengthen your wellbeing, it can feel like a daunting process. This is because largely at the beginning, we sit solo; be it with an idea or vision, or the need to improve our health. Nobody can initiate the task but number one. We need to grow units of our own-made encouragement.

For instance, in my case the realisation that I had to become fitter- that or face surgery to keep me mobile, was at first scary. I knew I couldn’t delegate the task out; it was up to me.  But, luckily since the original prognosis was that I’d not be able to talk or walk, I was spurred on my determination.

Yet, I still needed to find and grow my own layers of encouragement. I also realised that despite all the good intentions from loved ones; that the petals of encouragement are unique, what feels encouraging to one person, may not ignite, or fuel the same spark in the next.

We are individuals with bespoke personalities, likes and dislikes. Example if somebody had said to me: “If you try to walk with both feet pointing outwards for five metres, then I will bake you a carrot cake as a treat.” Then I would have never been encouraged or incentivised because I don’t like carrot cake; I’m a staunch chocolate cake supporter through and through!

Instead, and remembering that I’m a person who is visually stimulated; three years ago, when I first started my exercise regime, I took progressive shots of myself. I further shaped -up my own made layers of encouragement with the use of post it notes on my fridge: Come on darling, you’ve got this or, try to reach the door frame today, or a minute on the lips, an inch on your hips. And I still use these self-encouraging notes today. Similarly, I always place the recommended portion of fresh produce out on my kitchen counter. I call them irritating props, since I like clear work counters – but this works well for me. These tiny actions are my personalised units of encouragement, and power which with constant implementation add strength to my psyche.

When we’re trying to implement changes, we need to identify what things encourage us, as the individuals that we are. When we simply rely on others, the alchemy is not our own. It is not as potent or helpful.  It is not driven by our own determination or will.

To stimulate feelings of self-encouragement in yourselves, devote some time to sitting quietly in reflection. Cast your mind back to times that you were brimming over with encouragement, and make sure that these were self-made feelings, like I felt when I grew my first plants at school.

Collect as many of these helpful memories as possible: when you first tied your own shoe laces, when you passed your own driving test etc., because when you start recalling them, it will dawn on you, that you encouraged yourself, and these things were born out of your own determination and will.

Finally, as you see the petals of your own encouragement grow, strengthen, and open, acknowledging your positive actions ought to be rewarded, to keep you incentivised, with equally bespoke rewards because these again form part of your own powerful elixir.

I hope you find this helpful.

SUNNY wishes,

Emma xx