Developing Roots

Roots are what help us to feel connected to the space we inhabit. They contain a grounding impact that promotes a sense of security in the face of adversity. Having them bolsters our development in the many areas of self and other auspicious endeavors. 

It could be a city, a community, a job, family, house, etc. Whatever it may be that supports a sense of establishment and solid footing, allowing for the self to relate to the life you have cultivated, there is a profound aura of connection and tranquility. In this article, I examine the experience of not having roots, what establishing them does for your well-being, predicaments that may create obstacles, and several solutions for navigating the scenarios where stronger roots may need to be entrenched. 

In order to develop roots, it is first a priority to find comfort in one's self. This means recognizing your strengths (and weaknesses), providing yourself with messages of encouragement (as opposed to put-downs or a lack of permission), understanding your personality, being conscious of your motivation and drive, and finding comfort in stillness. 

In other words, you must first cultivate a sense of stability, allowing for solid footing, prior to developing a connection to the ground upon which you stand. Feeling comfort and connection in yourself will enable you to find the same in your surroundings, thus bringing about the development of roots. 

Often what gets in the way of developing roots is precisely the absence of what I described above. If you are uncomfortable with how you have cultivated your self then how do you expect to feel grounded in your environment? 

What can be helpful with developing increased self-acceptance is therapy, mindfulness meditation, and recognizing which beliefs you carry that no longer serve you. It's essential to view any obstacles as opportunities, as showing up already in a defeated state will make the process increasingly arduous. 

Buddhists have a saying: "thank you for providing me the opportunity to practice," meaning that it is through moments of struggle when we are presented with a set of circumstances from which we can grow. 

In conclusion, our connection to the world around us and the quality of those connections has primarily to do with the attitude(s) we've taken toward our self. You cannot improve the quality of your attachments until you formulate a more nuanced and compassionate view of who you are presently. 

Roots, as it turns out, are merely a matter of perspective. In many cases, a perspectival shift places an immense amount of responsibility on your ability and willingness to change. 

As the respected humanistic American psychologist Carl Rogers once stated, "the curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I change."  Running from who you believe yourself to be proves, time and again, to be a poor short-term strategy. 

If you're playing the long game, acceptance is often a pathway that provides clarity, redemption, and profound depth in association with life itself. To develop roots, try accepting yourself exactly as you are.