On June 19th, I nervously stood before my six-year-old towering fiddle leaf fig tree, pruning shears in hand. Its leaves nearly kissing the ceiling, seemingly thriving, but I sensed a stagnation beneath its surface. With both hesitation and hope, I pruned five broad leaves, trusting that this act of cutting away would ignte fresh growth. To my amazement, two months later, two new branches sprouted—one from the point of the cut and another halfway down the trunk. Dormant buds, hidden from sight and inactive until now, were suddenly awakened and began to grow. Even the cutting I had removed took root and propagated into a new plant.

This process mirrors our own lives and growth. Often, we carry beliefs, habits, or relationships that may seem functional on the surface, but deep down, they hinder our true potential. When we take the courageous step to “prune” away what no longer serves us, we activate dormant parts of ourselves, such as talents, desires, and strengths we may not even realize are within us.

Just as the pruning of my fiddle leaf fig triggered dormant buds to grow, humans, too, have "dormant buds" within us—parts of ourselves that lie inactive, waiting for the right conditions to emerge. These buds might be dreams we've pushed aside, strengths we've forgotten, or even new pathways of resilience we've yet to discover. However, it takes an intentional decision to remove the old to allow for the new. We must create the space for these hidden parts of ourselves to come to life.

adrienne maree brown, in her transformative work Emergent Strategy, beautifully captures this connection. She writes, "What happens on the small scale happens on the large scale. The patterns of the universe repeat at every scale." Nature teaches us that pruning isn't about loss but regeneration. Just like in plants, our own dormant buds—our potential for growth, healing, and change—are always there, waiting to be activated when we trust the process of pruning.

Embracing Necessary Endings

Pruning is an act of care and cultivation. It's about removing what's no longer serving the plant to allow for healthier, more vigorous growth. Similarly, in our lives, there are beliefs, habits, or relationships that may no longer contribute to our well-being or growth. Courageously letting go of these growth inhibitors can be challenging, but it's essential for making space for new opportunities and developments.

In the context of my 3D Power Tools Framework—Discover, Discern, and Determine—pruning aligns with the Discern phase. It's about refining ourselves, shedding limiting beliefs, challenging deeply held assumptions, and nurturing the aspects of ourselves that propel us forward.

Nature's Blueprint for Transformation

adrienne maree brown emphasizes learning from nature's strategies. She states, "There is an element of trust that is explicit in nature. A seed doesn't know what will happen, but it trusts that the conditions are right to grow." This trust is something we can embody. By releasing what's holding us back, we create the conditions for our own growth and refinement, even if we can't predict exactly what that refining process will look like.

Cultivating Resilience and Adaptability

My fiddle leaf fig didn't just replace the pruned branch—it doubled its efforts, sprouting two new branches and growing roots from the cutting to make a new plant. This is a testament to resilience and adaptability, qualities that are invaluable in our personal and professional lives. When we face setbacks or choose to make significant changes, we have the opportunity to come back stronger, with new directions and possibilities.

I currently care for nearly 60 houseplants, a passion that became almost an obsession during COVID-19. In hindsight, I see that this was my way of coping with the pandemic. But, I came to understand that I was embracing biophilia—the natural human instinct to connect with nature. Nurturing these plants became more than just tending to greenery. It evolved into a grounding and healing practice that reflected the growth and renewal I was seeking within myself.

Action Steps for Personal Pruning Aligned with the 3D Power Tools Framework

1. Discover: Uncover What No Longer Serves You

   • Self-Reflection: Take time to assess your lived experiences and narratives that may need pruning. What stories, habits, or relationships are hindering your growth?

   • Map Patterns of Exclusion: Identify limiting beliefs or actions that keep you from flourishing. What’s preventing you from fully demonstrating your potential?

2. Discern: Make Intentional Changes

   • Identify What Matters: Assess where there’s alignment or misalignment between your actions and your true values. What truly matters to you?

   • Intentional Letting Go: Consciously decide to let go of stories, behaviors, or relationships that no longer support your growth. This might involve setting boundaries, reframing your thoughts, changing routines, or seeking support. What can you release to align more closely with your authentic self?

3. Determine: Take Courageous Action and Nurture Growth

   • Embrace the Unknown: Just as pruning a plant requires faith that new buds will sprout, believe that your intentional actions will create space for personal transformation. Use mindfulness and wellness practices to remain grounded during this transition, supporting resilience amid change. How can you trust the process of growth, even if the outcome is uncertain?

   • Nurture New Growth: When new opportunities, strengths, or practices begin to emerge, nurture their development. Use tools like reflection, mindfulness, and community support to help them grow. What new opportunities or strengths are emerging, and how can you care for them?

Final Thoughts

Our lives, much like our houseplants, are dynamic and ever-changing. By observing and learning from nature's processes, we can find guidance for our own journeys. As adrienne maree brown reminds us, the patterns of growth, adaptation, and resilience are universal. When we align ourselves with these patterns, we tap into a powerful source of transformation.

In both nature and within ourselves, pruning can feel like a sacrifice, but it's an essential step toward new beginnings. When we take the courageous step to let go of what is no longer serving us, we create fertile ground for the unexpected to flourish. What is hidden inside you that's waiting to sprout? Perhaps it's time to do some pruning and see what dormant buds begin to grow.

So, the next time you find yourself holding onto something that no longer serves you, remember my fiddle leaf fig. Sometimes, it takes a little pruning to encourage the most vibrant growth.

Reference: brown, a. m. (2017). Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds. AK Press.