“We Must Cultivate Our Own Garden” — Finding Presence, Peace, and Purpose This Week

by Kristina Karlsson

It’s a fresh new week—and I’m so happy to be sharing this moment with you.

If you’re anything like me, you might sometimes feel pulled in every direction. Life has a way of getting noisy—between work, family, social media, and the endless to-do lists.

But today, I want to offer you a gentle reminder that impacted how I move through my days. It comes from the brilliant Voltaire, who said:

“We must cultivate our own garden.”

So simple. So powerful. And something we explored on a recent podcast episode here.

Let’s take a deeper look at what that really means—and how you can begin cultivating your own garden this week, with small, intentional steps.

🌱 What Does It Mean to “Cultivate Your Own Garden”?

Obviously Voltaire’s quote isn’t really about gardening—although there’s something quite romantic about planting roses and pulling weeds in a sunlit backyard!

It’s a metaphor for taking ownership of your own life.

To cultivate your garden is to nurture your inner world—your mindset, energy, routines, relationships, and dreams.

It’s about stepping away from the chaos of the outside world and turning inward, choosing peace over comparison, presence over perfection, and growth over overwhelm.

In a world that constantly distracts and demands, this quote is an anchor—a return to you.

🌸 5 Ways You Can Cultivate Your Garden This Week

Here are five practices I personally love and use, and I hope they inspire you too:

1. Start Your Day with Intention

Your mornings set the tone for the whole day. Begin with a grounding ritual—light a candle, sip your tea slowly, stretch, journal, or simply take a few mindful breaths. Even five minutes of stillness can shift your whole mood.

2. Choose One Thing to Nurture

Think of one habit, dream, or goal that needs your attention right now. Maybe it's moving your body, deepening a relationship, or just creating space to rest. Ask yourself: What area of my life is calling to be nurtured?

3. Say No to Protect Your Energy

Boundaries are essential in any garden. You don’t need to water every plant in everyone else’s garden. Protect your energy. Let go of anything that drains you or doesn’t align with where you’re headed.

4. Be Intentional About What You Plant

What are you feeding your mind and heart with daily? Is it stress, judgment, or comparison—or gratitude, peace, and inspiration? The seeds you plant today shape the life you harvest tomorrow.

5. Make Time for Solitude

Solitude is sacred. It’s where your truest thoughts emerge. When you allow yourself to pause and just be, you reconnect with what truly matters.

🌿 Retreat Into Solitude – A Special Invitation

Speaking of solitude…

I’m hosting a beautiful Retreat this May on the Mornington Peninsula, and I’d absolutely love to invite you to join me.

This is a chance to pause, breathe, and realign—with nature, with your dreams, and with your true self.

There will be gentle journaling, beautiful food, serene spaces, and time just for you to reconnect.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, a little disconnected, or just want to fill your cup, this retreat is your moment to reset.

Click here to learn more and reserve your place.

💛 Final Words

Remember, you are the gardener of your life.

And beautiful gardens?

They don’t grow overnight. They flourish through consistency, care, love, and intention.

So…

🌱 What will you tend to this week?
🌼 What needs pruning?
🌷 What new seed are you ready to plant?

Be gentle with yourself.

Celebrate the little wins. And never forget—you are capable of cultivating something truly beautiful.

Until next time, keep dreaming, keep doing, and keep cultivating.

With love,