3 Ways to Embrace the “Rooting” Phase in Your Creative or Personal Life [Writing Yoga® Prompt #2022: The Opportunities of Unseen Action]
Oct 25, 2023Finally, the weather cooperated and New Yorkers were able to get outdoors and not get soaked. We've had many weeks of rain on the weekends so whenever the sun appears, we go to mountains, beaches and parks and welcome the warmth.
We go to the trees.
Weekends indoors were "productive" for us. We could catch up on reading, laundry, and cleaning out the garage. We could reconnect with creative projects: write, paint and slowly cook a meal. These were the kinds of tasks that often go unnoticed but lay the foundation for a calmer, more creative life, much like the unseen work of tree roots.
When I think about trees, my attention often goes to the roots. They grow in winter when the trees are bare. They live under our schools and houses. They do the unseen work.
This week's WRITING YOGA® PROMPT #2022 invites us to reflect on these slow, unseen efforts, just like roots of a tree.
WRITING YOGA® PROMPT #2022: The Opportunities of Rooting
Do you ever feel like you are not getting visible results at something you have been working on for a long time? Roots are a great metaphor for a project you are working on that has a lot of "behind the scene" work. Trees grow slowly! So do roots.
This time of year is a good time to do the slow work and honor yourself for rooting.
WRITING PROMPT: Look at a picture of roots or draw one yourself. What do you notice? To get started, make a list of everything the roots and trees bring to your mind. List memories and ideas. Circle three concepts or images. Choose one and write about something you would like to take root this fall. What lessons can you get from the tree and its roots? Notice how you feel when you are done writing and take 5 minutes to write about that too.
This time of year, as everything shifts into slower rhythms, is a great time to do your own slow work and honor yourself for "rooting." Below are 3 ways you can embrace the ‘rooting’ phase, whether you're working on personal growth, a creative project, or a long-term goal.
1. Create Daily Rituals to Nourish Your Roots
Just like roots need time and consistency to grow, personal and creative projects grow with steady nurturing. It doesn’t have to be grand or time-consuming. Small rituals go a long way. Try journaling for five minutes every morning, sketching a quick idea before bed, or dedicating 30 minutes in the evening to a creative activity you love.
These little moments are like watering your roots. They keep things alive and thriving even if you don’t see immediate results. Some days might feel repetitive or uninspiring, but the magic lies in showing up consistently. Even when progress feels invisible, you’re quietly building something meaningful.
These rituals aren’t just about getting things done, they’re about creating space to connect with yourself. There’s comfort in knowing you have time set aside to feed your passions, even on the busiest days.
And the best part? You don’t need to worry about the outcome right now. Roots don’t grow overnight, and neither do big goals. The key is trusting the process and knowing that, eventually, all those small moments will add up to something beautiful. The important thing is to keep showing up, no matter how small the effort feels.
2. Shift Your Perspective: Slow Progress is Still Progress
Roots grow slowly, and they do their best work hidden from view. The same goes for personal growth, learning new skills, or tackling big projects. When you’re in the thick of it, it can feel like nothing’s moving. But just because progress isn’t visible doesn’t mean it’s not happening. If frustration creeps in (and it likely will), it helps to take a step back and reflect on the small wins along the way.
Have you learned something new? Developed a habit that’s starting to feel second nature? Those quiet moments of growth matter, even if they don’t feel impressive at first glance.
Try making it a habit to jot down these little wins, even if they seem too minor to celebrate. Maybe you wrote a paragraph, learned a new chord on the guitar, or just showed up to work on your project when you didn’t feel like it.
These seemingly small moments are like the first tiny roots reaching deeper into the soil. They might not be flashy, but they’re essential. When you acknowledge these subtle shifts, it can completely change your perspective. Slow progress is still progress, and every small step forward builds a foundation for something greater.
3. Honor the Unseen Work with Rest and Reflection
Just as trees need a dormant season to prepare for growth, we also need time to rest and recharge. Rest isn’t a distraction from progress, it’s part of the process itself. If you push too hard without pausing, burnout is inevitable, and your roots won’t have the chance to grow deeper. Rest can take many forms, whether it’s a quiet walk, reading a book, or simply giving yourself permission to do nothing.
Use downtime to reflect on the subtle ways you’ve grown, even if you can’t see tangible results yet. These moments of reflection are like fertilizer for your roots, giving them space to expand and strengthen.
Think of rest as a necessary pause between seasons of growth. It gives you time to process everything you’ve been working on, even if you don’t realize it in the moment. When you slow down, you allow your mind and body to catch up, and that can lead to unexpected bursts of creativity or clarity later on.
Remember, productivity isn’t just about doing more. Sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is slow down and listen to what your roots need. When you honor rest, you’re investing in your future growth.
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