b'Julie New, Relationship and Life Gardener at Changes Forever, Trained Personal Growth and Development Coach, Author of Keep Watering You; A guideto Self-Care. julienew.co.ukNURTURING YOURSELF BEFORE OTHERSWhat waters you?J ulie New is one of lifes natural helpers and, as aNotice what is going onpersonal Coach, she uses an important analogyThis is often that hardest part, noticing. to empower others be able to flourish and grow inRecently, one of my garden plants was wilting and I their life and relationships. realised it needed more light to flourish. I relocated the What happens if a plant isnt watered? The plant will doplant to a brighter area of the garden and its now happy okay at first as it has some prior resources. Soon, though,and thriving!it shows signs of depletion, starts to wilt and the leaf edgesIt is the same with us. Sometimes we simply have to notice turn brown. This continues for a while as it fights to survivewhat is going on within us and change our environment to and compensate but, ultimately, the plant quite simply diesmake space for new growth and happiness. from lack of water.We all need to be nurtured and physically and The plant could have continued to thrive quite easily andmentally nourished in order to thrive. its exactly the same for us. If we arent nourished with whatMetaphorically speaking, people we need on every level, we will suffer, wilt, fade and,seek my help when they areAnalogies and ultimately perish mentally, emotionally or physically. usually in the wilting or brown leaves stages. Theymetaphors are very What type of plant or flower are you? havent noticed until there ispowerful. My analogy I brand using a bright orange sunflower, representing myan obvious symptom. of gardens, flowers metaphorical self; warm and sunny, standing tall in mostDuring difficult times,and plants reflects weathers and constantly gravitating towards the sunshinepeople need to learn howour own self-care and in life. If I am representative of a sunflower, then whatto thrive again, how topreservation. Plants type of flower, tree or plant would you be? This dependsgrow and how to makeneed watering and on your personal interpretation of yourself and how youthe changes they need to. This is often difficult but life- care to flourish;currently feel about yourself and your life. changing.so do we.Anything in life takes time to grow, build and develop. If you dont take time to really take care of YOU the wayJulie draws on her own you do other things, ultimately everything will suffer. Yourexperiences of loss, grief and relationships, business, health and the people around youphysical, mental and emotion depletion. suffer too. She uses her journey of recovery alongside coaching When things are out of balance, you will feel all theto help others achieve a new and healthier state of negative effects of that. balance in life.15'