Hello and welcome to episode 18 of grounded in stillness.
Trees are all around us, they stand the tests of time and deal with whatever the environment throws at them, no matter how harsh.
What if we could be more like trees, when difficult situations come up we ground ourself in place and face things there and then, instead of delaying the inevitable.
I mean if tackling things head on wasn’t possible, trees would not survive very long. So just maybe nature shows us it is possible to take on anything that life throws our way.
Find yourself a comfortable position, be this sitting or laying. The choice is yours.
*** Music starts ***
Adjust your shoulders, adjust your hips.
Softly close your eyes.
Breathe in deeply, breathe out deeply.
Become aware of your chest as it gently rises and falls.
Allow your breath to connect you to this exact moment.
The stillness of your body, the chance for the mind to slow.
Just breathe.
Imagine you are outside.
The only thing with you is a tree.
A single tree standing in a vast, open, empty space.
You take a moment to look at the tree.
How its roots have moulded into the earth around it.
How strong and stable the tree trunk looks.
The pattern of the bark and how it creates shadows from the light.
Areas of the tree trunk which have cracks, or bits of bark missing. Like the tree is telling a story of the harsh environments it has survived. Each imperfection to the tree making it unique.
Each branch as it extends from the trunk, each perfectly designed to reach out into the world. With smaller branches extending from the big ones, then leaves and flowers.
As if the tree knows if you brave enough to reach out, you can extend beauty and colour into the world, for others to appreciate and enjoy.
You look at all the leaves and flowers on the tree, for a moment enjoying all the shades of greens of the leaves. Then whatever colours come into your mind for the flowers.
Then you look closer, you notice some leaves are torn, some missing, the odd few are a shade of brown. Some flowers have petals missing.
However you realise these imperfections tell the story of how the tree deals with each situation it finds itself in. Wind, rain, lightning even snow.
The tree knows each environment it faces might not be comfortable, or ideal like a sunny calm day. Yet the tree still stands. Once through a tough environment it can repair, it can grow stronger.
Until a few moments ago, all you could see was the beauty of the leaves and flowers. Completely unaware of the smaller details of what the tree has been through.
You can be like the tree, strong, stable and take on the rain and snow. Knowing you might come out the other side with a few damaged leaves, but you made it.
Take a moment to take in the entire tree.
Its stillness.
Its calmness.
Yet knowing everyday the tree has to take on whatever is coming its way.
The tree still stands. It still thrives.
Anytime you find yourself in a situation you would rather run from, remember trees. They face everything the world throws at them and are still all around us.
Enjoy a few more moments to breathe deeply. To enjoy the company of the tree.
Take one more deep breath in, deep breath out.
Allow your breath to return to its natural rhythem.
Gently wiggle your fingers and your toes.
Slowly open your eyes.
Thank you for listening.
*** Music ends ***
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