#357 - Monday Motivation: "We must cultivate our own garden." - Voltaire

Welcome to another short and empowering episode of Monday Motivation, giving you a dose of inspiration as you head into your week...

Today, we explore a powerful quote from the French philosopher Voltaire, that bluntly reminds us to focus on our own lives and take responsibility for what we can control:

“We must cultivate our own garden.”

Three key takeaways you can expect:

1. Discover what it really means to ‘cultivate your own garden’—and how this philosophy applies to your everyday life.

2. Learn five gentle but impactful ways to start tending to your mindset, energy, and habits today.

3. Understand how to protect your peace, set boundaries, and reconnect with what truly matters.

Take this opportunity to reflect on how to nurture your inner world and create beauty and meaning - right where you are.

As always, I’d LOVE to hear what resonates with you from this episode and what you plan to implement after listening in. So please share and let’s keep the conversation going in the Dream Life Podcast Facebook Group here.    

Have a wonderful week …and remember, it all starts with a dream 💛

Dream Life & kikki.K Founder

SHOW NOTES:

• Join my Platinum Coaching Program (NEW Member Trial offer - save $200!) - where in May our focus is on Manifesting Your Dream Life - and turning vision into reality. Our Monthly Habit: Daily guided meditation. Commit daily to visualise your dream life and attract abundance.. Learn more here.
• Join my virtual book club GROW for May where we meet weekly on Zoom to discuss and squeeze the learnings from great books. This May we're reading The DOSE Effect: Small Habits to Boost Your Brain Chemistry, by TJ Power. Today’s fast-paced world leaves many of us struggling with extreme emotional highs and lows caused by chemical imbalances in our brains, brought on by the pressures of modern life and constant digital connectivity. Neuroscientist TJ Power shares how you can reset and balance your brain chemistry with simple, everyday habits to lead a happier, healthier, and more productive life. NEW Member trial offer - just $9! Learn more here.
• Dream Life Community Facebook Group: Connect with like-minded dreamers.

RESOURCES:

• Sign up to our email list here to hear about upcoming workshops.
• Take your first step to getting clarity on what you want from life with this free bonus dreaming exercise here 101 Dreams Audio Guide 
• Buy Kristina's book, Your Dream Life Starts Here
• Discover how close you are to living your Dream Life. Take our 5min Quiz here and get personalised insights emailed to you...

TRANSCRIPT edited:

Hi & welcome back…

I’m so happy to be here with you as we begin a brand-new week—and not just any week, but one full of potential for growth, presence, and beauty.

Today’s quote is from Voltaire, and it’s one of my favourites:

“We must cultivate our own garden.”

Let’s take a moment with that. There’s so much wisdom in those six simple words.

In a world that constantly pulls us in every direction—work, family, news, social media, and everyone else’s opinions—it’s easy to forget this: our life is our garden, and it’s up to us to tend it.

So today, let’s explore what it really means to cultivate your own garden—and how you can begin, even with just one small step.

What Does It Mean to Cultivate Your Own Garden?

Voltaire wasn’t talking about pulling weeds or planting roses—though I do love the thought of gardening, it’s definitely not my area of expertise! 😊

What he meant was taking responsibility for our own lives. Focusing on what we can control. Creating beauty and growth right where we are, instead of getting swept up in the chaos of the world.

It’s about:

• Tending to your inner world—your thoughts, energy, and intentions.

• Protecting your peace.

• Intentionally choosing what you plant in your days.

You don’t need to fix the world. Just start with your own patch of earth—your mindset, your habits, your dreams.

5 Ways to Cultivate Your Own Garden This Week

Here are a few ways to put this quote into action:

1. Start your day with a grounding ritual.
Light a candle, sip your tea slowly, journal a few thoughts. Even five minutes of quiet can change your whole day.

2. Identify one thing to nurture this week.
Maybe it’s a habit you’ve been meaning to build—like daily walking or reading before bed. Ask yourself: What garden bed is calling for my attention?

3. Say no more often.
Let go of what drains your energy. You don’t have to be everywhere or please everyone. Your garden deserves your best energy.

4. Take inventory of what you’re planting.
Are you sowing seeds of stress and comparison—or peace, love, and purpose? Your daily choices shape your future harvest.

5. Make time for solitude.
Silence is where clarity lives. When we pause and listen, we can hear what really matters.

Speaking of Solitude...

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

It’s all about pressing pause, stepping away from the noise, and reconnecting with you—your dreams, your purpose, your joy.

There will be journaling sessions, gentle reflection, beautiful food, peaceful moments in nature—and the space to breathe, feel, and come back home to yourself.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure about your next step… this retreat is your invitation to realign and begin cultivating the next season of your life from a grounded, intentional place.

You can learn more about the retreat on our website – I’ll link it in the show notes.

Final Thoughts

As you move through your week, remember: you are the gardener of your life.

And the most beautiful, thriving gardens? They don’t happen by accident.

They grow through love, attention, and consistent, gentle care.

So… what will you tend to this week?

What will you plant?

And what might need a little weeding?

Be kind to yourself as you begin. Progress, not perfection.

I’m sending love, encouragement, and belief in your ability to grow something beautiful—right where you are.

Have a wonderful week.

And as always—until next time—keep dreaming, keep doing, and keep cultivating. 💛