subject: Trim Your Tree [print this page] During certain times of the year such as holidays or special events, our exposure to family is greater. The following metaphor guidance was inspired after several counseling sessions with clients.
Humans are like all other species in nature in that they must grow or they will die. Like a tree there is always a parent trunk with branches. In our yards and forests we trim the branches that are sapping more than their share of energy from the rest of the tree. Think of yourself as a tree. Trim your tree so that the essence of who you are is strong and is seen by all.
If a branch grows bigger than its trunk, like a child, it must be cut away and planted in its own space and soil. After the cut branch is rooted, it will become the trunk and will support its own branches separate from its parent trunk.
If left attached, that branch will do one of two things. One, it may continue to consume the essence of the rest of the tree including the parent itself. When this happens the other branches may grow weak or even may die from lack of nourishment. Even the trunk itself may become weak unable to support itself. In this case all parts of the tree will not develop to their full potential.
Two, the bigger branch if left attached may find its growth will be stunted and unable to support any branches of its own. It, too, will never be able to grow to its full potential.
Your psychologists call these conditions co-dependencies, a suppressing condition to the human spiritual, physical mental and emotional development.
We offer some guidance for how as a human parent; you can trim your branches or as a human child, break away from the parent trunk.
As a parent, put yourself in a relaxed altered state. Then ask yourself if there is a branch that is still attached, but could live on its own. If you honestly see that there is, cut that branch off and give it the opportunity to develop on its own completely independent of its original trunkyou. As a child, (we might add age is not a factor) cut yourself from your parent trunk.
In both cases the result will be two healthy trees, whose essences develop independently and to their full potential. Whatever that may be. Only then will you be thankful to each other for playing a part in your souls development.
