Life Lessons from the Chinese Bamboo Tree
Remember, if you have heard this story before, you have not heard the story in this season of your life. Consider this lesson through the lenses of the present. My friend, learn from the bamboo tree. There are many lessons you and I can learn from nature, and here, we’re learning from the bamboo tree.
The Bamboo Tree Story
Like all other plants and trees, the Chinese bamboo tree requires nurturing through water, fertile soil, and also enough sunshine to ensure that it will grow.
If you try to plant a bamboo tree you will make sure to give it enough water, the right soil, and also enough exposure to sunlight. There will be no visible growth in the first year. And if you continue to nurture the bamboo tree, after the second year, nothing will grow above the ground. And if you choose to continue on for the third and fourth year, you will see nothing also.
Finally, in the fifth year, something amazing will happen. The bamboo tree that you planted will grow to 80 feet tall in just six weeks!
Amazing! For the first four years, nothing had happened, but in the fifth year, the bamboo tree grows to 80 feet tall in just six (6) weeks. Nearly 2 feet per day. You can almost see the transformation and growth.
Does this mean that within the first four years, nothing has happened to the tree? Not at all, in fact, the bamboo tree is growing, UNDERGROUND, but you can’t see it. The foundation has to be established for the growth in year 5.
The bamboo tree is a type of tree where it can grow super tall and because of its potential height, it requires a strong foundation of developing a root system to support its outward growth. If the bamboo did not grow its root for a strong foundation for the first few years, it would never sustain its future tall structural body.
Linking the Bamboo Tree to Your Life
The metaphor of a bamboo tree explains the best of what is happening to most people in life. A lot of people, including myself, are trying very hard to start/grow a business, make solid career choices, strengthen relationships, execute financial principles, and, well, enjoy life.
For the first few years, no matter what personal, career, or business you venture into, it will be extremely difficult. You may have poured in the necessary time and effort into your goals and projects, but nothing seems to be happening. And this is exactly like the bamboo tree. In the first few years, nothing seems to grow from the ground even though you are fully nurturing the tree, giving it enough water, providing it with a suitable soil, and making sure it has enough sunshine.
At this point, most people would have given up. I’m not sure where you are right now in your life, but if you are like most there are goals that you have set but failed to achieve. Why do you fail in achieving them? Why are you not farther along in this season of life? The answer is simple, I believe most people fail to achieve their goals because they have given up and quit before the real growth happens.
In beginning, they are so motivated and fired up losing the extra weight in their body. They bought the running shoes and also signed up at a health center. However, after a while, it could be weeks or months later, they started to lose faith in their goals and lose momentum.
As a result, they tend to put in less effort. As time passes, they forget about their goals and eventually find themselves busy with other things in their lives. Does this explain your situation?
Now, here comes the good part. Life Lessons.
1. K.I.S.S. Lesson
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” Albert Einstein
KISS stands for Keep It Simple Stupid. That is, you want to simplify things so that a stupid person could do it or understand it. Or if this is too blunt, “Keep It Short and Simple.”
Too many people over-complicate things in life. This can lead to paralysis by analysis. If you apply the KISS principle to your life, you will be more productive, feel better about the decisions you make, and can have a happier and more pleasant disposition.
2. Learn to See the Value of Time
“Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you cannot ever get more time.”
Spread out your time and you can achieve anything you desire. Be it making more money, building relationships, or bettering your health, time can make all these things happen. Never waste this priceless gift.
3. Steady Progress
“Success is steady progress toward one’s personal goals”
Everyone has heard the ending to the popular children’s tale of the tortoise and the hare. Success never happens overnight. It takes many years and immeasurable effort. So, manage your expectations from the start. This will help you feel better about the small steps you take and overcome the disappointments that you’re sure to experience along the way
4. Never Give Up
“How long should you try? Until.”
Imagine you stayed completely focused on something for let’s say 10 to 20 years, think of the expertise you would gain from the experience. Think of the network you would build around you within that industry. Then think of all the great things you could achieve and the lives you would impact.
Where are you in your life journey? Year 1, 2, 3, or…? Years 2020, 2021, and 2022 are just around the corner. Are you set for extraordinary growth? Are you anticipating and hoping the plan you have established includes the right ideas, a nurturing the foundation, yet unclear of the expected outcome?
Maybe it’s time for a Coach? Someone to encourage, challenge, and develop additional strategic tools in your toolbox. Invest in yourself and call Coach Steve today for a FREE consultation @ 815.252.4744. This forward step can change your life.