Life gets busy, and today I decided to press pause as I was staring out my window looking at the tree, despite the mile long to do list and the nagging feeling that I am “not being productive”. In this Season of transition, as the warm, sunny weather gives way to the cooler, darker, grey skies, and as the trees shed their leaves and stand naked, I am reminded that we occasionally need to put on the brakes, and take time to reflect on where we are going. We sometimes need that quiet reflection time, that “me time” to go inward and get in touch with the deeper part of ourselves and what we are needing and wanting for ourselves in this particular season of our life.
On releasing
Just as a tree sheds its leaves and “let’s go” – what in your life are you ready to let go? Maybe it’s a behavior, habit, thought process or approach, too much damn clutter (guilty), a relationship, a job, a commitment to something - whatever it is, get in tune with that still, quiet inner voice that knows what you are ready to release from your life in order to make way for new things to come.
On resilience
A tree is very resilient - standing naked through the darkest, coldest months of the year and emerging in Springtime rich with buds ready to blossom into luscious foliage. What do you wish to bloom in your life? Where do you need to stand naked in your truth and authentic expression? In what ways, do you need to “get comfortable being uncomfortable” in order to grow? What are the more challenging aspects of life hat you need to bravely face, commit to dealing with, healing, mastering etc?
On standing firm
A tree strands erect and sturdy. Its branches sway with the wind – remaining flexible for the most part. Sometimes branches snap – much like people – life can be heavy & difficult at times. However, in time, new branches grow and emerge. In what ways or areas of your life are you needing to stand tall and remain steadfast, and strong? Where do you need to be flexible, or compromise? Where do you need to be patient? Where do you perhaps need to branch out for support in order to grow?
On giving
Trees give in abundance. Where and how are you giving of yourself? How do you best like to give? What makes you want to give of yourself? Are you giving enough of yourself, too much, just the right amount?! What are your gifts and how can you share them with the people, causes and communities that you serve? When you give, how does that make you feel?
On Uniqueness
Trees are unique. Some are large, some are small – they have different shapes, different leaf structures, different bark, they like different environment conditionals, they turn different colors in Fall. What makes you unique? How can you embrace and accept your uniqueness?
On Nurture
Decaying, fallen trees nurture the earth as they breakdown and compost. Like a tree that breaks down and creates a beautiful, rich composted soil, what in your life do you need to "breakdown" in order to achieve? I was watching a Focus 3 podcast the other day and it stated, “To achieve any goal in life you must: a) work the process that is necessary given scale and size of goal or project b) Invest the time c) overcome problems and solve problems along the way. The podcast went on to say how you must have relentless focus and effort – refuse to listen to the quitting the voice, because it’s easy to say “yes” to something in the beginning, not so easy in the middle…"
Where do you need to invest in yourself, and nurture the life you want? Where do you need to take productive action, especially when it comes to difficult situations or challenges that you might be facing?
Life is short. It goes by fast as the days turn into weeks, and the weeks turn into months and the months turn in to years. Many things beg for our attention, and the "do lists" are never ending. Still, it's important to take time to pause every now and then, and get in touch with that still, smaller inner voice that helps guide your personal evolution and life direction.
- Tara xo