On a recent hike in the mountains, my husband and I came across a truly curious site. At first glance it appeared to simply be a fallen tree, uprooted and lying quite dead on the forest floor, its roots jutting out sideways onto the trail. But on second glance, we noticed that what we thought was a tree growing close behind, was in fact, a very large branch growing out of this same “dead” tree. This branch was reaching up through all the other dead branches…and was very much alive. It was not struggling to survive, it was clear that this branch was thriving….an abundance of brilliant green leaves dancing in the wind.
“How could this be,” we thought? We inspected the tree a little more closely and discovered that a small portion of the root system…maybe 1/16th of it…was indeed still buried into the soil.
This branch refused to give up. It refused to accept whatever trauma had felled the tree, and simply affirmed its right to live and prosper. It was an example of the “optimism of nature” that Ralph Waldo Emerson talked about. I can imagine a conversation between the tree and the branch, with the tree saying, “It’s over, we’re done for,” while the branch says, “oh, but look, there’s still a part of us connected to the earth, and look at the beautiful sun shining down on us.” “I for one,” the branch continues, “am grateful for the life force which sustains me, the rain that feeds me, and sun which compels me to grow…woo-hoo…l’chiam…to life!” And it grew and prospered.
From my perspective, this branch represents the part of us that refuses to be “felled” by life; the part of us that, despite past trauma and current challenges, despite setbacks and obstacles, has decided to instead look at the blessings in life and celebrate them. It’s the eternal optimist…the grateful self within us. And it is this “self” that…if we nurture it…will give rise to a rich and joyous life. A life worth living.
Now, it seems that some people are born optimistic. They just naturally wake up in the morning and notice the good, while others can’t seem to tear their attention away from what’s wrong with life. But we can all cultivate an optimistic approach to life by (you guessed it) practicing proactive gratitude. You cannot help being optimistic when you’re committed to searching out, documenting and celebrating the good that is in your life now. The practice of proactive gratitude trains your brain to be optimistic. It shifts your mind to automatically notice the blessings and to see and act on opportunities others miss. It trains your whole being to vibrate with joyful expectancy. And this vibration acts as a magnet drawing even more blessings into your life.
If you are new to the practice or want to review the steps of proactive gratitude again, click here. Then, think of the thriving branch growing out of apparent death and awaken your grateful, optimistic self.
Many blessings and l’chiam!