Don't Leave, Make Like a Tree
Make like a tree and:
Ask for help when you need it
Bask in the sun
Don’t be afraid to branch out
Reach for the sky
Let it go
Embrace change even when it’s scary
These analogies are adapted from Liz Marvin’s book “How to Be More Tree” and compare the most notable adaptations and traits of trees with the complexities of spiritual beings having human experiences. They also serve as great reminders as we are sometimes plagued by a prefrontal cortex, the part of our brain responsible for higher level cognitive functioning. The self-imposed burdens and expectations we place on ourselves can become overwhelming and will more often than not have a negative impact on our self-worth and self-esteem when not addressed.
I remember coming home from school during a time when all “projects” were completed using the Encyclopedia Britannica which needed to be accessed through the school or public library. Simple: ride your bike or hitch a ride to your nearest Britannica, read and quote stuff. Fast forward however many decades you need for sake of accuracy and we are all connected by a thread of technology that gives us access to a wealth of information that naturally raises expectations of outcomes. There is no value attached, it simply is and can be confounding when the differences in access are based on variables once not available to anyone.
These advancements pose an increasing need for more mental health care in our society where the ability to live full time in the likeness of a tree is unrealistic and unfortunately, unavailable without effort (oh the irony). Instead, we have to schedule time for living in the likeness of a tree.
The advancements in fields of science and technology often negatively affect our mental health while paradoxically offering many life and time saving measures. Our individualist culture includes maintaining an adapted society, which for many produces an internal and unsettling resistance to community and connection (ahhh, “Ubuntu”). It has not only become the norm but the standard for students, professionals and anyone with access to a smart phone.
Let this be your Tree challenge: where can you “branch” out? Where/for what can you ask for help? How can I connect and flourish physically without relying on the comfort of technology? How do you create space for less in your life? After taking an honest inventory of your routines and dependencies, some suggestions are to:
Reduce time on social media for connection with people or animals you love.
Create time outside for movement and sensory integration even if it’s parking your car further from your work entrance or any store than you normally would.
Think of a question or problem you’ve been avoiding asking for solutions and make time for outreach.- Have an accountability partner for any small adjustment to reducing life’s distractions.
Unfortunately, intrinsic motivation often yields less than we’d hoped.