“The wisdom of nature is available if we choose to notice”
Lerita Coleman Brown
Are You Pot-Bound?
Plant Wisdom for Getting Unstuck and Thriving in Life
In this enlightening and heartfelt short book, Dr. Helen Richardson shares her experiences with her 30-year-old snake plant, Charlie, who was neglected and nearly died. As she discovers that Charlie’s decline is due to being pot-bound, she takes steps to save him. Through this process, Dr. Richardson uncovers the profound life lessons that Charlie’s plant wisdom imparts, offering readers a metaphor for their own lives. She encourages readers to deeply reflect on their own situations and use this book as a workbook to gain clarity and take meaningful action.
Let plant wisdom guide you in discovering a new way to look at your life, and strategies to begin to get unstuck.
Four Groups Who May Find This Book Helpful:
Pot-Bound is for individuals
This book can be read by individuals who will use the questions to probe transition situations in work or personal life, relationship issues with family members, or intense internal struggles.
“Charlie’s story immediately resonated with me. I was Charlie too! After 25 years of very active ministry, I had outgrown my pot. On the outside, I looked like I was thriving, but spiritually and emotionally, I was dying. ‘Are You Pot-Bound?’ was another tool to open my eyes and get me on the right track.”
Kimberly Jones, President/Co-Founder, ereflow
Pot-Bound is for groups
With the safety of ground rules, and the depersonalization that the Charlie metaphor provides, the context is set for intimate gatherings where individuals share their personal and private experiences. It provides opportunities for reflection, clarity, connection and healing.
Testimonials from groups representing 4 generations:
“People are deep – you don’t know how deep they are until you ask them to explain more. Everybody has a story to tell, but not many are willing to do that – we don’t take the time, and we take each other for granted.”
“Sometimes we feel alone, and we are not, this was validating, empowering.”
“Very appreciative to be with people in a similar age bracket/origins, about things we don’t usually talk about, especially being more open. I would chase opportunities to do this more often.”
“I have a sense of connectedness and increased awareness of my journey as a whole piece. It is a nice light that I discovered that will give me further direction. I appreciate listening to everyone and different perspectives. I have a framework to tell my life story – how to connect the beginning to where I am now.”
Pot-Bound is for skilled facilitators
Coaches – executive, life, career coaches, and organizational consultants may find the Pot-Bound story helpful in opening areas for reflection and action.
“The Pot-Bound metaphor is all about self-awareness and self-care, recognizing choice and freedom, and encouraging positive action, both for oneself as well as one’s Staff. It is very helpful for people in the midst of a career transition. It can help uncover even unconscious self-limiting beliefs that contribute to a feeling of stuckness, given its elegant simplicity, resonance and depth.”
Amanda Price, Communication and Conflict Skills, Trainer, Coach and Consultant
Pot-Bound is for Career Professionals
“Are You Pot-Bound is a short and sweet book for a common situation encountered by most career professionals: clients who are stuck in their lives and/or careers. Author Helen Richardson is wise, creative, and leads with her heart. She illustrates her plant metaphor with an adorable graphic and presents her content in the form of a workbook. The book is accessible, inspirational and full of meaningful insights.”
Kim Neubauer, Senior Career Consultant, US Department of State, Drexel University LeBow College of Business and LHH
Consider bringing a pot-bound workshop to your workplace, community of faith, governmental facility, healthcare and senior living spaces.
If you would like to use the pot-bound approach in your own practice, please contact me to talk through how this would work for you.
Contact Us Today to schedule a time to talk.
About the Author: Helen A. Richardson, ED.D, PCC
Dr. Richardson is an author, career and executive coach, and professional speaker with more than 35 years of experience in human resource management, career consulting, workforce, and organizational development. Her practice addresses strategies for a more positive and personally fulfilling work experience for leaders, youth, professionals, and individuals in all stages of their lives and careers.
Dr. Richardson has a doctorate in organizational development and training from Temple University and is a certified professional coach. Helen is a career thought leader and “Work Sage.” She has created two trademarked career development products, A New Way to Think About Work® for adults and Find Your Wings® for youth. Both products provide roadmaps for redefining work to cultivate and embody Career Consciousness—a mind, body, and spiritual approach to reframe, problem-solve, and overcome the issues and challenges of today’s workplace.