Have you ever seen the gigantic redwood trees in the Sierra Nevada, California?
They can grow to a staggering 250 feet high (that’s 76 metres) and their trunks can be as wide as 9 metres in diameter.
Back in 2008 my mate and I travelled round California for a few months and visited the Sierra Nevada.
(this is my mate taking a pic of one)
(and this is some random guy that was on our trip, standing beneath the giant redwood 'Tunnel Tree')
14 years on I'm now wishing I'd got pic of me with these trees but never mind!
Back to the redwoods...
As you can see, they are absolutely huge!
The really interesting thing about them is despite growing so high and so wide, their roots are actually pretty shallow.
Typically only 6-12 feet deep. Which given their towering height doesn’t seem enough.
Yet they very rarely fall over.
Regardless of the rough weather they face – they stand firm.
And here's why...
They draw strength, stability and support from each other.
Brad Stulberg talks about the redwoods in his book, 'The Practice of Groundedness' and says,
"When rough weather comes, it is this expansive network of closely intertwined roots that supports the trees' ability to stand strong as individuals."
If you were to ask yourself who or what keeps you up when the weather is rough, what would be the answer?
We're often guilty of underestimating the importance of having people around us for support at challenging times.
We don't need to do it all on our own.
And in fact, it's a lot to ask of ourselves to try to do it all on our
own.
Typically when I start working with a client who is feeling out of shape, stressed and overwhelmed, they will have become isolated.
They are trying to stand strong as individuals but they don't have that supportive network around them.
Within work they take on too much and don’t look to others for support. The phrase ‘it’s lonely at the top’ couldn’t be more appropriate. They are supporting colleagues and there for employees – but no one is looking out for them.
The same can happen at home where they are taking care of everyone else and their own needs fall by the wayside.
And they’ve often become cut off from their friends because, well, they just don’t have the time or energy to see them.
Covid definitely hasn’t helped with this. Through lockdowns and working from home – which has continued for many – we have become more isolated.
It's really important that we remember to both create and then make use of that support network around us.
Whether it's a case of empowering others at work through delegating more. Or asking for assistance from colleagues.
At home,
recognising that your own needs are important too and explaining this to your loved ones. And appreciating that taking time for yourself actually benefits the people you care about most. They then get a healthier, happier version of you.
Making time for your friends and reaching out to people you've not been in touch with as much as you maybe could've.
And if needs be contacting a coach or a mentor. Someone who can be in your corner and provide support and encouragement when you need it.
It's extremely hard to do it all on your own and you don't need to.
Like the redwoods, create that
support network through others around you.
And you'll feel far more stable next time that rough weather comes.
