How Rewilding My Lawn Helped Me Align with My Values (and Find Greater Purpose)

"The Meadow - Formerly Known As "The Lawn

Rethinking the Traditional Lawn

For years, like many garden owners, I viewed my lawn as something to manage—a uniform stretch of moss and grass that I mowed weekly through spring and summer. I didn’t do it out of love, but rather out of habit and adherence to an unspoken neighbourhood standard.

It was neat, predictable… and ultimately, uninspiring.

To paraphrase Morrissey, it "said nothing to me about my life"—or at least the life I wanted to live.

Over time, I started questioning the routine. Was I genuinely tending a garden? Or was I simply maintaining a controlled space that didn’t reflect anything meaningful?

When Gardening Becomes a Habit Without Purpose

I cared about my garden—but realised my actions didn’t align with what I truly valued. The process of maintaining a tidy lawn had become a ritual devoid of meaning.

When I reflected more deeply, I understood: I didn’t want short grass. I wanted a space that reflected something more personal—something that expressed my care for nature, my relationship with the environment, and my values around sustainability and authenticity.

So I made a change.

I stopped mowing.

Rewilding: My Values and Purpose. A Small but Significant Shift

At first, choosing to stop mowing felt like a quiet rebellion against the norm. But the decision opened the door to a more transformative idea: what if I turned this lifeless patch of lawn into a wildflower meadow?

This was not a magical overnight transformation. Rewilding a lawn takes work. I removed turf with a cultivator tool, exposing the kind of poor, low-nutrient soil that wildflowers prefer. I sowed a custom mix: yellow rattle, ox-eye daisies, knapweed, hawkbit, lady’s smock, and native grasses.

Then came the waiting—and the wondering.

Four Years Later: A Living Ecosystem Emerges

Four years on, the space has evolved into a vibrant and diverse habitat. Bees, butterflies, birds, and small mammals now make their home where once there was just clipped grass and moss.

More importantly, this change brought with it a powerful sense of alignment. I wasn’t just gardening. I was acting on values—choosing biodiversity, inviting wildness, and allowing space for the unexpected.

Overcoming Internal Barriers to Meaningful Action

This wasn’t only about aesthetics or environmentalism. It was about pushing past internal barriers—the voice of doubt, the worry about what others might think, the attachment to tidiness and control. Letting go of those expectations allowed something more fulfilling to take root: a sense of purpose.

That kind of shift—choosing values-aligned action over automatic behaviour—is at the heart of our work at Bonmotus.

Mind To Action: Building Skills for Values-Driven Living

Mind to Action is our behavioural and psychological skills programme designed to help individuals overcome internal obstacles and align daily actions with deeply held values. Whether in gardens or boardrooms, in personal life or professional contexts, this alignment fosters sustainable motivation, greater clarity, and a more meaningful experience of life.

Because even the smallest changes—like what you plant in your garden—can reflect who you are and what you stand for.

Final Thought: Let the Daisies Win

Letting go of perfection isn’t failure—it’s freedom. When we release ourselves from unnecessary expectations, we make room for something richer to grow.

Let the daisies win. Let your actions speak to your values. Sometimes, the most beautiful thing you can grow isn’t just wildflowers—It’s a life that truly makes sense to you.