Branch Your Life Out Like a Tree

We have an unfortunate relationship with feeling awkward when we get older. We hate it and don’t realize it helps us. 

Let’s take a dive into nature and learn something about growth. 

When I grew up, we had a shelter belt of trees. I remember distinctly the one year it was our job to weed and water these brand-new tiny trees we just planted. 

Looking at them I thought how goofy they look. They looked like planted twigs in the ground that had some little numbs on it.

Years later, I saw something more. Not only did these ‘twigs’ grow into bigger trees, I also looked around at all of our trees in our yard in awe. I realized, we all start as weird looking twigs and grow into a great life. 

If I look deeper at this, I realized how I have applied this to my life. In the process of learning new skills, new lessons, new education, I am as vulnerable and useless as a twig in the ground with a bunch of nubs for branches. That’s when it hit me—Breaking the bark. That’s the critical step we fear. 

Let’s mildly think of plant biology here, imagine a small tree is growing in a certain direction; involving all of the cells in the tree. Only knowing this directional pattern, the tree and its cells continue to growth in this direction.

As it continues to grow, for some reason it goes against that form and it reaches out in a new direction. It goes laterally out to the side. Now why would it do that? 

Here is the cool thing; If for just a little bit, this tree pushes through the bark awkwardly, after a few days, or maybe a week, this nub of cells does something else. It grows a leaf, and now because of the leaf taking in the sunlight, this is adding life to this tree. 

Let’s talk people now. 

You started out like a twig in the ground with some nubs and it didn’t bother you. You sucked at things, but took in the lessons to overcome that challenging process of learning. 

Then something happened; We started avoiding it. Maybe because of being teased in high-school, or maybe because you’ve just felt more comfortable in your current routine and never thought it wouldn’t benefit you.

Why be bad at something? 

Well let’s compare the ambition of a tree that doesn’t fear branching out, to a modern day person that has to be a ‘creature of habit’. Who fosters their life better? 

Remember this branching out process is for a reason. For the tree, it gives the plant the ability to take in more sun. For you, branching out gives you a new aspect of living! Learn a new language, an instrument, form of art—ANYTHING!

This is growth of your existence. 

You just need one critical step: Breaking The Bark. Appreciate that you will overcome that and create a new skill and a new character. 

And once you know you have this skill, what else could you accomplish? 

I don’t know plant biology that well, but my imagination tells me that a tree would feel the presence of the sun, and believe that it should branch out there to foster this. 

Where would you feel more sunlight in your life?