Lessons Trees Can Teach Us

I have always been fascinated with trees.  I have read pages and pages of information about the giant sequoia tree and the weeping willow.  I used to hide beneath a large weeping willow tree and find an instant sense of comfort there. Oftentimes, when there is a breeze outside, I will sit back in the hammock and look up into the trees.  I get lost in there.

Trees are more than a growing trunk of bark and branches of leaves.  They are more than an indicator of changing seasons or that a storm is brewing.  Trees offer a certain life-dependent resource, oxygen, but they are more than even that.

Trees are symbolic, often representing protection, strength, life, stability, peace, boundaries, regrowth, and wisdom.  Trees can teach us many lessons, if we slow down and pay attention.  Trees teach us about life, hardships, and working together. Most Native American tribes consider the tree a spiritual symbol that represents transformation, spiritual nourishment, growth, resurrection, and wisdom.

Since this blog is written to promote mental health awareness and emotional health, the lessons trees can teach us are ones that can be used for inspiration and improved mental health.

The main lesson we can learn from trees is the importance of having solid roots.  If a tree is not well-grounded it will be easily uprooted by stormy weather.  For stronger roots, trees must be planted in areas that promote optimal growth, ensure they are taking in the right amount of nutrients, and are getting the right amount of sun.  Lesson: For optimal mental well-being we must start by strengthening our core (roots).  We must surround ourselves with an environment that allows us to thrive and engage in self-care practices that refreshes and strengthens our roots.

In the fall, the green leaves transform into brilliant orange, yellow, and red colors.  By winter, the trees appear bleak and bare.  This sullen appearance soon drifts away as the tree transforms into a lively and vibrant display of color in the spring. Lesson: The trees role in the changing of seasons can offer many valuable lessons; however, I am going to keep it simple. The lesson here is that transformation through hard times can bring hope.  We lose people we love. Parents are faced with an empty nest. We experience a trauma.  But even in challenging times, when we think life will never again bring us happiness, we are quietly transitioning into a new self.  We have let go of the past and re-invented ourselves. We made it through the darkness and now have a renewed sense of hope.

A final lesson that trees offer relates to withstanding challenging times.  I am often amazed after a serious storm that my trees survived the harsh winds.  I have read that a community of trees survive storms because the roots of each tree intertwine with neighboring trees.  Trees also change their shape to the flow of wind, which reduces the force of wind.  Lesson: When facing challenging times, it is important to have a network of support. This support system may include family, friends, a therapist, a psychiatrist, support groups, coworkers, church family, classmates, and/or other community resources.  This support network can help you see your strengths when you can’t.  They can offer healthy coping strategies or guide you in a direction to professionals who can help.  Sometimes, you just need someone to spend the day with to get your mind off of a difficult situation.  Oftentimes, just knowing that someone cares, or someone else has experienced what you are experiencing can help.  Also, having the ability to make changes in your life that is causing you stress is important to good mental health.  If you are experiencing stress, consider things you can change or how you can change your response to the stressor.

Trees teach us the importance of having a strong root system, the significance of transitioning through seasons, and how to withstand challenging times.  Mental well-being begins with have a strong core, which means you have a solid sense of yourself, you know how you should be treated, and you have a set of values that you consistently stand by.  Allowing yourself to transform through hard times can bring hope and help you to strengthen your core.  When facing challenging times, it is important to have a network of support to better withstand the difficulties you may be facing. I hope this brief blog has helped you to have a new perspective on the lessons of our ancient wise “friends.”

All our wisdom is stored in the trees.―Santosh Kalwar.