You Must Bend, But Not Break
At some point in life we will all experience a storm. For some, this storm will come and attempt to rearrange everything in your world. Your relationships, your career and your finance may all take some type of hit. Such changes can be devastating and have the potential to break a person down from all of the stress that comes along with it.
Some people are dealing with an unforeseen health issue while some others are going through the struggles of building a business. Some are at their breaking point because they just aren't seeing the results that they want in life right now. All of these people are at a breaking point and are considering walking away or simply giving up on their goals and dreams. These people are beginning to lose faith and they are beginning to talk themselves out of their dream because there family and friends don't share their vision! Again, all of these people are on their knees crying from the frustration and are also at their breaking point. What I've learned is that when you find yourself facing these type of challenges these are the times when you must bend, but not break.
In this column I want to remind you that when you find yourself in one of these demoralizing situations that you must bend, but not break. You see, when you bend, you're willing to get uncomfortable; you're willing to do whatever it takes to make it in that moment!
When you bend you make the decision that this challenge will not defeat you! When you bend you make the decision that better days are to come and that you will not break! You will not allow your financial challenge to ruin you! You will not allow this health challenge to get the best of you! You will not allow your friends and family to convince you that your dream will never work based on their own failures and being broken because they refused to bend! Remember, you must bend, but not break.
One of the trees that grows in China is the bamboo tree. The bamboo tree is one of the fastest growing trees in China. You see, when you first look at a bamboo tree you will quickly notice that the bamboo tree does not have the size and girth of an oak tree.
Based on size and looks you would never guess that the bamboo tree is one of the strongest trees on Earth. But what's amazing about the bamboo tree is when the wind reaches 100 mph and there's tropical storms, hurricanes, and typhoons it's mind blowing how this tree responds! When the strong winds begin to blow the bamboo tree will bend all the way down to the ground — sometimes less than an inch off the ground.
During these type of storms the powerful oak tree is split in half, ripped up out of the ground, and then used as a tool for more destruction. But there's something special that happens to the bamboo tree during these type of storms.
When the floods stop, the heavy winds go back to normal, and the storm passes on the same bamboo tree that was bent over will somehow will bounce back up. What the bamboo tree is best known for is it has the ability to bend, but not break! You see, this is the same in life.
Sometimes you will experience storms. Sometimes, you will be faced with unexpected challenges that you didn't anticipate. Sometimes, you will be working on a job for years and think you have job security and one day your manager is going to come in and tell you that your services are no longer needed.
Sometimes, you will go to your doctor for a normal checkup and the doctor is going to tell you something doesn't look right additional tests are needed.
Sometimes, you're going to have goals and dreams and share them with your friends and family and they say things that will make you doubt yourself and want to give up. When these things come, you must remember that you must bend, but not break! You must have the courage to bend when times get hard!
Winston Churchill once said, "If you're going through hell, keep going!!"
During your hard times, no matter how bad it gets, you must remember that you were designed just like the bamboo tree! You were designed to bend, but not break! Your challenges are nothing more than a temporary setback and just like the bamboo tree, as along as you're willing to bend you will never break!
I wish you nothing but success.
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