Here is the second in a series of tiny-little-practices-that-make-a-difference.
Now that things are opening up, what is it that you want to foster?
To Foster: Derived from the old English verb fōstrian meaning to nourish, the current dictionary definition reads: To promote the growth or development of; to further encourage and affirm.
Transitioning into a new normal is an opportunity to be conscious about where we put our attention and energy. Fostering is a remarkably powerful human activity that we invest wisely, or otherwise, depending on how intentional we are. Fostering is at the heart of mentoring, teaching, parenting, creative endeavors, and any good leadership. (There are times that we might catch ourselves fostering a negativity in our lives that is giving rise to hardship and struggle . . .)
Here are some reflection questions to consider:
What is it that you are fostering these days?
To what do I give encouragement through my actions?
To whom do I give encouragement and affirmation?
Looking over your responses to these last two questions . . .
How in alignment with my deepest longings is my fostering activity?
Are there any energy leaks or distractions I feel the need to address?
Are there any shifts or changes I would like to make in my fostering activities?
Daily questions to carry forward:
What would I like to foster or encourage today? What simple action might this require?
Who needs my affirmation and encouragement? In what way can I offer it?
Where can I go for the affirmation and encouragement I need to stay connected to the golden threads in the tapestry of my life?
And here is a poem that I hope will offer encouragement as you pick up this tiny little practice . . .
It Is I Who Must Begin
- Václav Havel
It is I who must begin.
Once I begin, once I try —
here and now,
right where I am,
not excusing myself
by saying things
would be easier elsewhere,
without grand speeches and
ostentatious gestures,
but all the more persistently
— to live in harmony
with the "voice of Being," as I
understand it within myself
— as soon as I begin that,
I suddenly discover,
to my surprise, that
I am neither the only one,
nor the first,
nor the most important one
to have set out
upon that road.
Whether all is really lost
or not depends entirely on
whether or not I am lost.