What My Plant Taught Me About Thriving
I’ve been caring for houseplants recently, and they’ve been my greatest teachers. Today I want to share a lesson that completely shifted how I think about letting go.
I have a palm plant in my bedroom, and for months, the tips of its leaves were brown. Every time I walked by, I’d think, “This plant is going to die,” but I just kept watering it, hoping for the best.
Then a few weeks ago, I noticed new growth was sprouting. Even with all those brown tips, my plant was thriving enough to create new life.
Finally, one Sunday morning, I was tired of looking at those brown leaves from my bed. I couldn't take it anymore. I grabbed my phone, took a picture, and asked Claude AI what to do (yes, I talk to AI about my plants).
The answer was simple: trim the brown parts.
So I did. And as I was gently pruning, I felt this unexpected calm. It was honestly blissful. Curious about what was happening, I asked Claude about the importance of pruning, and that's when I learned that removing dead leaves allows the plant's energy to flow to healthy growth instead of being wasted on dead leaves.
But here’s what hit me hardest: When you prune the dead parts, it allows the plant to truly thrive.
Immediately, I started thinking about us as humans. How much dead weight do we carry? How much do we hold onto what’s no longer serving us?
Maybe you’re holding onto old belief systems that are actually keeping you stuck. Perhaps you believe you have to accomplish certain things by a certain age, and that belief is stopping you from pursuing what you really want because you think you’ve “missed your chance.”
We sometimes give our precious energy to things that are no longer alive in our lives: Old beliefs, expired dreams, or fear-based thinking.
But what happens when we let go? What happens when we prune away what’s no longer serving us? We get to give our energy to what we love and what’s important in this current season of our lives. We get to truly thrive.
The transformation of my plant took about 20 minutes. Twenty minutes of gentle pruning, and it went from looking half-dead to absolutely vibrant.
I've seen the same in my own life and in the lives of my clients: the freedom and thriving that happens when we release what no longer serves us.
When we prune away the dead weight of old beliefs, unrealistic rules, or fear that keeps us stuck, we create space for growth, peace, and freedom.
It’s like cleaning your house and throwing away all the clutter, and suddenly you can breathe again.
I’d love to hear what this stirred up for you about letting go in your own life.
Here’s to pruning what no longer serves us, so we can thrive in this season of life.
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About the Author
Bianca is passionate about helping people become all they are created to be by peeling back layers of shame, fear, and hurt to discover the treasure within. As a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia with a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University, she provides soul-aligning therapy that helps clients connect with their most authentic selves through an intuitive, spirit-guided approach. She creates a safe, respectful space where clients can explore what matters most to them, and for those seeking spiritually-integrated or faith-based counseling, she is trained to weave spiritual practices and Christian beliefs into therapy sessions. Additionally trained in EMDR, Bianca is committed to helping clients live aligned with who they truly are and accept themselves despite their imperfections.