10/07/2026
Today I swapped Post-its for pine cones 🌲 out walking the dog, planning a coaching session. Pine cones were scattered all across the path. It got me thinking.
A pine cone closes when conditions aren’t right. It opens when they are, letting its seeds fly on the wind. It isn’t being difficult, it’s responding to its environment.
Flourishing isn’t just about trying harder. It’s about creating the conditions where people can open, grow and, when the time is right, fly on the wind.
I’ve used two flourishing frameworks this week, and watching who reaches for which one has been its own kind of data.
🌳 The Tree: roots as values, trunk as core skills, branches as growth edges, canopy as where you’re heading, pine cones as what you’ve produced and seeded for next time. People who think in pictures light up here.
🎯 PERMA: Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment. Something you can score and track. People who want a number light up here instead.
Neither is “better.” This week I used both frameworks with my own children 👧, encouraging them to self-advocate for what helps them flourish and with clinical staff 🩺
Letting someone pick their own model is the theory in action, not just an illustration of it. The framework matters less than the invitation it creates ✨Different doors, same room.
Curious which lands for you trees, or numbers?🌲🎯 comment ⬇️
If you’d like to explore further I offer 1:1 and team coaching contact me at [email protected]