What does a tree and its branches have to do with the concept of Control? As any business owner and life traveler knows, we all have situations and times when we must make difficult decisions. Still, when difficult things need to be resolved, we sometimes find ourselves in a situation where there’s nothing we can do to resolve the issue. Sometimes, it may require time, space, and the dreaded “inaction.” The sworn enemy of our friend, Control.
You’ve looked at it from every which way. You’ve done everything you could have done, and now you have to let the universe take its course and let its flow be its flow. That’s the tricky part, right? Because we’re so good, or at least I know I am so good at convincing myself of how stressful and senseless it is for me not to have Control over the situation. I’m also very good at creating all of these additional narratives. I always see it as tentacles. It’s something small that I stress and worry about. And I can turn that into something massive within a minute. I can think of all the worst outcomes and worry about five things connected to each result within a minute.
There are many other life situations, especially business situations, where action cannot breed resolution. And no matter how you look at it, you’ve already done everything you can.
And before I know it, my mind has gone much further than the actual problem. And I’ve already envisioned and seen all the horror outcomes that could occur. But when I take a moment to be quiet and still, 80 % of the time, I realize I am nowhere near that. Yes, this can happen five, six, seven, or eight steps along the line. It’s that snowballing of thoughts. And that’s why I love Control so much! I tell myself that if I can control that initial sense of discomfort or nub that thing in the bud the moment it goes wrong or seems stressful, everything will be okay. Yet, I still need to remember a time when this actually worked. Although there are practical things in life that you can nip in the bud and prevent from getting worse, there are many other life situations, especially business situations, where action cannot breed resolution. And no matter how you look at it, you’ve already done everything you can.
Now, you just have to trust that everything will work out for the best of all concerned. I’m going through one of these challenges this morning. I am sitting outside watching the sunrise, trying to find my center, reconnecting with my thoughts and truth within. As I’m staring at the sky, I see the tops of the tree branches effortlessly swaying in the wind, and I find myself wishing I was a tree. I just stare at them. They’re so tall and high. The branches sway in harmony with the wind, left and right, dipping and returning upright. And they’re okay with it. They’re okay to just swing. They just go where the wind takes them because no matter what happens, they are rooted in the earth’s foundations. Their roots always keep them steady. So, no matter how the treetops may bend and swirl, they always have this solid foundation to keep them grounded and safe.
How do I get to a point where I can do that? Where I can sway with the coming and the going of the wind, the direction life sometimes blows me in, but still be rooted in a foundation where I know all is well. A point when I really know everything will be okay, and I can trust in it.
Roots hold us steady when we feel weak and they can grow stronger and bolder.
It’s like I’m constantly seeking to uproot myself, thinking that if I plant myself somewhere else, the ground will be better. The water will be sweeter. The sunshine will be brighter. Instead of just rooting myself in this space and place. Knowing that while I am rooted in safety and love, I will sometimes have to change direction and sometimes be battling a storm. But my branches will eventually recover.
It’s tricky to see this side of the fence when stressed. Of course, this is easier to do when you’re calm, happy, and in a jolly good space. Life’s curve balls don’t feel like such a sucker punch to the gut in good times.
But gosh, when that moment hits where you’re so inundated with life, difficult choices, decisions, and stressful situations, especially when it’s not of your doing and outside of your proverbial shield of Control – It’s a lot more complicated.
I’m going to dedicate time every morning to stare at the trees. Recognize the power their rooted foundations bring them, and try to be like the tree branches. Roots hold us steady when we feel weak and they can grow stronger and bolder.
How do you feel about the foundations that root you in your life? How do you deal with Control? There are so many self-help books and so much advice out there. Everybody has their own brand of how they deal with Control and what their magic source is to letting it go and seeing that it’s a false sense of security. But let’s just be honest for a minute. What’s your secret sauce when you’re in it, in the thick of it, in the eye of the storm?
What’s your secret sauce when you’re in it, in the thick of it, in the eye of the storm?
Love and Light
Jeanne
