The Story of Chinese Bamboo
Have you heard of the Chinese bamboo tree before? There are experience you could gain from it, because this is one of those lessons that really stays with you. The Chinese Bamboo Tree teaches us success comes through patience, faith, growth & development, perseverance and importantly human potential.
Like any plant, growth of the Chinese Bamboo Tree like most other plants requires watering the plant, good quality soil and sunshine. In its first year, we see no visible signs of growth. In the second year, again, no growth above the soil. The third-year same result, the fourth year, still nothing. Our patience is tested greatly as we begin to wonder if our effort in watering is being wasted on something that will not work. And pretty soon we begin to think if our hard work will ever be rewarded.
Finally, in the fifth year – lo and behold, there it is a miracle! We experience a visible growth. And what growth it is! It is the small bamboo sprig, then the next day an even bigger one and in 6 weeks it has grown up to 80 ft. (30 meters)!
Ask yourself this question does the Chinese Bamboo Tree really grow 80 feet in six weeks? Was the Chinese Bamboo Tree stagnant for four years only to grow rapidly in the fifth year? Or, was the little tree growing underground, developing a root system strong enough to support its potential for outward growth in the fifth year and beyond? The answer is, of course, obviously.
It was developing solid root system necessary to support the height and weight of the bamboo stalk for a lifetime.
The same principle is true for people. People, who patiently move towards their dreams and goals, building strong character while overcoming adversity and challenge, grow the internal strength to handle success.
Now ask yourself have you been working hard in a particular area of your life, but not seeing the rewards for all your effort? Maybe you have been spending countless hours trying to achieve a specific goal and it is just not happening and you added extra effort still no result, it can be often discouraging. You seemingly do all the right things, and nothing happens. But for those who do things right and are not discouraged and are persistent, you exercise perseverance. At the end things will happen! You will be hugely rewarded if you stick to it.
The Chinese Bamboo Tree is a perfect example to us about our experience with personal growth and change. It is never easy. It’s slow to show any progress. It might even be frustrating and at the time not seeing rewards. But know that it is so worth it, especially if we can be patient and persistent.
If we all stop to think, we quickly discover that each one of us has a Chinese Bamboo Tree inside of them, and with enough patience and perseverance we can have that big breakthrough. So, keep watering and believing and have perseverance and you too will be achieving your dream before you know it.
Create a solid foundation to stand on your character, values and attitude. Be sure to build your house on a rock-solid foundation and not on the shifting sand. Ask yourself what is that one thing you can do today that will help you improve your attitude toward life?
Take note the small actions you take everyday to make a big difference in the future, and ask yourself, what is the one tiny thing you can do today that will move you closer to your goal?
Finally, you must be ready to persevere. Don’t give up. Keep going. Continuous progress imperfect action is more important along the way than waiting for things to perfectly line up.
Don’t let your mood, circumstances or people demoralize you. Get started, and keep going. You’ll be amazed at what you can achieve. And what is more important, is who you will eventually become as a result of persistence.