Thoughts are like seeds. Each one you nurture, whether that be through repetition, attention, or the influence of emotion, has the potential to take root and shape the world you live in. But just like a garden, not every seed is something you want to grow. Some ideas need pruning, while others need careful tending. The key is to notice where your energy goes when these seeds take root. Notice how your mind influences the way you feel, act, and connect with others.
At KIM+ONO, our kimono robes were always meant to inspire the beautiful, intimate, meaningful parts of your life. We hoped each design would be self care you could wear every day, so your most nurturing thoughts could take root in your daily life. Today in the journal, we’re going to take you through a practice of understanding your thoughts so you can grow the garden of your mind into a truly beautiful sanctuary.
One powerful way to practice awareness and self care is to turn inward and ask yourself reflective questions about your thoughts. Questions like:
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What are you tending to?
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What are you paying attention to?
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Where do your thoughts lead you?
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What are you growing each day?
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What needs pruning?
Let’s explore each of these and see how you can turn them into daily rituals of self care to make you feel lighter in your mind and more grounded in your body. And along the way, we’ll add small, everyday luxuries, like slipping into a silky robe or using a face stone roller, to reinforce the ritual and make it something you look forward to every day.
Photo by Ashley Streff
What Are You Tending To?
Every thought is like a little seedling in the soil of your mind. Some can bring potential and inspiration to life. Other thoughts with seeds of doubt, resentment, or comparison, grow stronger and more powerful the more you feed them. If you ask yourself, What am I tending to?, you’re really asking: where is my energy going? If you notice you’re watering worries or fears, it’s time to redirect that attention toward ideas, projects, and relationships that nourish you.
Ritual idea: Each morning, slip into your favorite kimono robe silk, brew tea, and journal for ten minutes. Write down the top three thoughts you’ve been tending to lately. Then, decide: are they worth more water, or is it time to let them go? Creating this small ritual signals to your brain that you’re in charge of your inner garden.
Photo by @mariacalderon.art
What Are You Paying Attention To?
Your attention is one of your most powerful tools. What you focus on expands, and it has no concern for whether it’s something worth expanding or not. If you focus on creativity, it will expand. If you focus on stress, it will also expand. Think of your attention as sunlight: where you shine it is where growth happens. If your thoughts are looping around social media drama or work anxieties, notice how your body responds. Do your shoulders tense? Does your jaw clench? Conversely, if you focus on something that inspires or excites you, notice how your chest opens, how you breathe easier.
Ritual idea: At the end of the day, take a few deep breaths while smoothing your skin with a cool face stone roller. As you roll across your cheeks and forehead, ask yourself: Where did my attention go today? Did I give my energy to what matters most? The simple act of pairing reflection with a soothing physical sensation helps anchor the thought into your body.
Photo by Ashley Streff
Where Do Your Thoughts Lead You?
Not every thought is neutral. Some lead you down spirals of self-criticism or catastrophic thinking. Others lead you into creativity, possibility, and action. Asking, Where do my thoughts lead me? is a way of tracking the path you’re on. Do your thoughts usually end in more anxiety, or do they spark curiosity and hope? This awareness helps you gently shift course.
Ritual idea: Wrap yourself in a silky robe before bed and close your eyes for five minutes of guided imagery. Picture your thoughts as stepping stones on a path. Where does the path lead? If it’s toward a cliff or into a dark forest, imagine turning back and walking toward a clearing, a place of calm. This visualization, combined with physical comfort, can help reset your nervous system before sleep.
Photo by @mariacalderon.art
What Are You Growing Each Day?
Whether you mean to or not, you’re cultivating something. Habits, beliefs, and emotions all sprout and grow with daily repetition. Are you growing patience, resilience, and joy — or frustration, exhaustion, and self-doubt? Growth comes from practice, so make sure you’re practicing the things you want more of.
Ritual idea: Each morning while you get dressed, take a pause in front of the mirror. If you’re wearing one of your kimono outfits, let it feel like putting on an intention for the day, not just clothing. Say aloud: Today I am growing [blank] and fill in the blank. You might be growing calm, love, or courage. Speaking it aloud reinforces the growth you want to see.
Photo by @mariacalderon.art
What Needs Pruning?
Every good gardener knows pruning is essential. If you never cut back old growth, the plant weakens. The same is true for your thoughts. Negative self-talk, grudges, or outdated beliefs can drain energy that could be better used elsewhere. But remember, pruning doesn’t have to feel harsh or punitive. It’s simply a loving decision to stop investing in what no longer serves your growth.
Ritual idea: Once a week, create a release ritual. Light a candle, slip into your kimono robe silk, and write down thoughts you’d like to prune away, for instance: “I’m not enough” or “I don’t have time.” Then, tear the paper and throw it out. Pairing the mental act of release with the physical act of tearing creates a sense of completion.
Understanding your thoughts is about more than “positive thinking.” It’s about becoming aware of the patterns that shape your daily life and consciously choosing which ones deserve to stay. Every day is a chance to tend your garden with intention. And with a little pruning, attention, and care, you’ll find your thoughts begin to bloom in ways that bring more beauty, clarity, and joy into your daily life.
