09/04/2024
I love this post on effectively handling stress. A very worthy read by TYLER BOSSETTI. I found it on Substack.
Stressed? It’ll make you or break you….
In the heartlands of the American West, where the earth meets the sky in an endless embrace, a profound lesson unfolds beneath the vast canopy of the ever-shifting weather.
This is the tale of the buffalo & the cattle. Creatures bound to the same land yet following markedly different paths in the face of nature's tempests.
We all walk the same land, but each decide a path in the midst of temptation & adversity. In these desperate moments, we can begin to question our values, aspirations, and the paths we have chosen.
The cattle — creatures of habit and comfort, graze upon the verdant plains, their lives a testament to the gentle ebb & flow of serene days. But when the horizon darkens & the ominous rumble of an approaching storm breaks their tranquility, fear takes hold. Instinctively, they turn away from the storm, seeking to outrun the encroaching adversity of nature’s thunderstorm.
Yet, this choice, driven by a primal urge to flee from discomfort, leads them directly into the storm's path. With the gale chasing them across the plains, their flight only prolongs their exposure to the very elements they seek to escape, prolonging their distress and fatigue.
The cattle runs away from the storm, instead of facing it head on. This flight, not fight, decision is a false illusion running away will be less painful. In fact, it is more grueling process for the cattle.
Face it head on!
In contrast, the buffalo, stoic and undaunted, stand as sentinels of a different wisdom. Upon sensing the brewing tumult of the same storm, they pause, their dark eyes reflecting the gathering clouds. Then, with a collective resolve that seems to stir the very air, they turn to face the oncoming darkness. Together, they charge toward the heart of the storm.
This deliberate act, born from an innate courage, carries them through the tempest's fury with surprising swiftness.
By meeting the storm head-on, they traverse its breadth, emerging into the calm that follows more quickly than if they had sought to avoid it. The storm, with all its might, becomes less a journey of endurance than a passage swiftly crossed, a challenge met with fortitude rather than fear.
The buffalo's choice embodies a powerful truth about the nature of adversity and our responses to it. Like the buffalo, facing life's inevitable storms—be they personal trials, professional setbacks, or the inner turmoil of doubt and fear—head-on can transform our journey. It teaches that within the heart of challenge lies the opportunity for growth, resilience, and a quicker return to peace.
This story, a whisper on the winds of the plains, serves as a timeless metaphor for those who seek to navigate life's tumultuous skies. It reminds us that sometimes, the quickest way to overcome a challenge is not to avoid it, but to move through it, with the knowledge that after the storm, the sun always returns, and the plains flourish once more.
Bend, don’t break!
The Biosphere 2 experiment was designed as a scientific instrument for the examination of Earth's ecosystems, facilitating research in agriculture and ecological innovation in a manner that was benign to the environment.
An unexpected yet significant insight gained from this endeavor was not related to breakthroughs in medicine or novel agricultural techniques but to the crucial function of wind in the life cycle of trees.
Within the controlled environment (indoors away from nature’s adversity) of Biosphere 2, trees exhibited rapid growth rates surpassing those observed in natural settings, yet they toppled before reaching full maturity.
Upon examining the trees' root structures and bark, researchers deduced that the absence of wind within Biosphere 2 led to a lack of what is known as "stress wood."
This type of wood is vital for a tree's ability to orient itself towards optimal sunlight and fortify its structure. Devoid of stress wood, trees may grow swiftly but lack the structural integrity to support themselves, making them vulnerable to ordinary environmental challenges.
Essentially, the trees demonstrated that a certain degree of stress is essential for their sustainable development and survival.
The moral of this post is clear — adversity, much like the outdoor conditions faced by the first tree, buffalo & cattle, is essential for growth and development.
We all face challenges & difficulties, while seemingly harsh & undesirable, are vital in building resilience, strength, and character. Just as the tree facing the elements grew sturdy and robust, individuals and organizations can also grow stronger through the trials and tribulations they face.
The stress will break you or can become the foundation of your breakthrough!
The Devil whispered in my ear, “you are not strong enough to withstand the storm.”
I then replied, “I am the storm.”
TYLER BOSSETTI
