Stop watching your seed

These days we are so impatient. Living in an instant world. We cannot bear to have to wait for anything.

Back in the day, when people used to grow things from seeds they knew the ropes… You prepare the soil, you dig a hole, you put the seed in. And then you wait… For a long time. You water. And you wait.

You have no clue what’s going on under the surface. And you have no idea which seeds will be successful and which won’t. You can only wait, hope and pray.

In today’s day and age, it is so different. We want big rewards from our actions. But we want them NOW! And we won’t get started if we are not guaranteed this result.

If we have had no response from something we have posted on social media within a couple minutes, we right it off as a failure. If we don’t get any response from friendships we are trying to build, we give up. If we don’t get any instant affirmation or monetary increase from our work, we slump back.

It’s a sad reality. How can we expect anything to grow if we are not willing to wait and keep working on it at the same time?

That’s if we actually put ourselves out there in the first place…

I have realised that for a long time I felt paralyzed by the idea that maybe what I have to offer the world will not received well. That I shouldn’t share my thoughts or gifts in case I they are overlooked, or give my effort in case it is not noticed or appreciated. Getting a poor response from what I offered may somehow decrease it’s value. And people may think less of me for presuming I had something to give.

On top of this… what if what I gave didn’t produce anything, or make any difference in the world?

I have since realised that not all seed grows into a plant. But you have to plant them non-the-less. Because some will.

Another thing that occurred to me is how much time we waste by ‘watching our seed’. We put ourselves out there on social media and then keep watching for any outward signs of its effectiveness (which mainly consist of likes and follows). How many minutes and hours are wasted with this? Yes, we can check. But sitting and watching a seed grow is wasting time that we could be doing other things, living our lives and making more impact.

We will produce fruit and be rewarded for our effort and ‘seeds’ sown. As we continue to make our contributions to the world, it is not just ‘likes’ that we are looking for – it is something more. The kind of impact we can have – whether it’s inspiring, encouraging people, bringing change, growing a business or building something great – will happen over time. It will not be immediately noticed or appreciated.

But let this not stop us. Let this not make us give up our work, our efforts, or our giving to the world in our various ways. Whatever your dreams or goals may be, you will only get there as you begin to engage. As you take steps forward. As you put yourself out there. Day after day. In the same direction. As you keep finding the courage to give.

And I think we will be surprised. When suddenly something springs up out of the ground. It will seem sudden. But it won’t be. All the sowing and waiting will pay off.

So let’s sow our seed. Give our gifts to the world. Share our thoughts. Give our time and effort to the things that matter. And let’s stop watching the seed… but rather give it space to grow!