We talk about the changing economy and different external pressure facing us every day from every direction. There is the finance, the job, the business, the health, the many concurrent projects and the list goes on. And we feel stressed from every angle, pulled from many directions.
We need to be strong to withstand external force and pressure, and we need to be open to change and adapt. We grow with changing times and bounce back into action when we falter.
Think of modelling after bamboo. I like to use analogies to illustrate my points in my teaching. Images from nature are very rich in message. The more I ponder on them the more they motivate me. As I look for an image that would help me deal with the present difficulties and challenges, the picture of bamboo came to mind.
Why bamboo? Well let's look at some of their qualities and then you tell me if you want to be like bamboo.
Bamboo is strong. It has a tensile strength that is superior to mild steel. How strong is mild steel? They can withstand up to 52,000 pounds of pressure psi. Is that strong enough for you?
Bamboo has a weight-to-strength ratio that surpasses that of graphite. That makes bamboo the strongest growing woody plant on earth. Now if you think that Bamboo is strong and hard, think again.
Bamboo is very flexible. Have you watched the movie "Hidden Dragon Crouching Tiger"? Bamboo can take the entire human weight and not break, they just bend.
Because of the flexibility coupled with their strength, buildings made with bamboo have been known to withstand earthquakes measuring up to 9.0 on the Richter scale.
Bamboo is resilient, tenacious, never yielding and bounces back to life. They survived the atomic bomb at Hiroshima in 1945. And was the first plant to re-grow and re-green after the blast!
They did not bow to any bomb. When attacked they just bounced back to life! Bomb or no bomb! And when harvested Bamboo just continues to sprout new shoots! They don’t' give in, they just grow back!
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on this planet. Some species have been measured to grow over 4 feet in 24 hours! Is that fast enough for you?
So to triumph over your difficulties and challenges, you need to ground your roots; dig deep into your resources to withstand external pressures. Bend with the tide, be willing to change and be transformed. Go with the flow and grow, and regenerate even if you have been knocked down or "harvested". Just grow again, and this time greener, stronger, healthier, and taller!
It is my hope that you too will find the bamboo in you to ride out the storms of life.
Bamboo never says die, bamboo just flexes its muscles, bends and regenerates. By the way, if you have not noticed, bamboo is hollow. Lots of space in the bamboo.
Some facts are taken from the FRIM Site (Forest Research Institute of Malaysia as I was doing the research
About the Author: Louisa Chan is an Certified and Empowerment Coach who will help you live a holistically productive and successful life without the stress. She is also the author of "Stress-Free Living In 30 Days". Louisa's program is practical, doable, straightforward and powerful. It has helped many to regain calmness and a quiet power naturally as they continue to pursue their dreams and missions.
Her program is full of easy to understand and remember analogies that draw powerful lessons from our daily lives. You will enjoy the straightforward and content filled program with tips and secrets uncovered. For a limited time only, when you invest in the homestudy program, you will also have access to Louisa's group coaching facility to help you implement the tips shared in the program.
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