Are You Blooming, Budding, Stunted, or in Need of Renewal?
Episode Overview
Recognise the different stages of blooming, budding, stunted, and renewal in your life. Understand that work-life balance is a myth and can lead to unnecessary shame. Regularly check in with yourself and your team to ensure a healthy growth environment. Loneliness is an epidemic that affects our well-being deeply. Your life goes through seasons; it’s okay not to be in full bloom all the time.
We are not here to see through each other, but are here to see others through
Are you feeling like you're in full bloom, just starting to bud, feeling stunted, or in need of a renewal? This episode of The Well-Tended Life Podcast with Keri Wilt dives into these stages of personal and professional growth with guest Dan Pontefract. Inspired by her great-great-grandmother’s book 'The Secret Garden', Keri brings a fresh perspective on intentional living and the cyclical nature of our personal and work lives.
Dan, an author and former chief learning officer, shares his insights from his latest book 'Work Life Bloom', which explores how we can identify and navigate these stages in ourselves and those around us. Dan talks about the myth of work-life balance and how striving for it often leads to unnecessary shame. Instead, he suggests viewing our lives as gardens that go through different seasons. He breaks down the concept into four personas: blooming, budding, stunted, and renewal.
These personas help us understand that it’s okay not to be in a constant state of bloom. In fact, recognising when you’re in a different stage can help you manage your personal and professional life more effectively. One standout moment is when Dan discusses the importance of regular 'soil and water tests'—a metaphor for checking in with ourselves and our teams to ensure we’re all growing in a healthy environment.
He also touches on how loneliness has become an epidemic, equating it to the new smoking in terms of its detrimental effects on our well-being. Keri and Dan's conversation is filled with practical advice and heartwarming anecdotes that will leave you feeling both inspired and equipped to tackle your own life garden. Whether you’re feeling on top of the world or struggling to find your footing, this episode offers valuable insights that are sure to resonate.
Ready to dig into your own life garden? Tune in and discover how you can cultivate a well-tended life, no matter what season you’re in.