The Underbrush of Life

The underbrush in the wooded areas is beginning to bud and turn green.  The trees above them are still bare so the sunlight can penetrate through them and shine on the plants below.  The underbrush is what is beneath the huge trees and closest to the ground.  It grows first in the Spring and is the last to lose its color in the Fall.

Life has underbrush in many ways.  Sometimes the focus is only on the outward appearance – what one can see – and ignores the beauty and depth underneath.  Sometimes the focus is on the busyness of life not on what is inside the heart.  One can miss the beauty of the situation or the person when there is only an outward focus.

When reflecting on the underbrush, the word underlying comes to mind, too.  Underlying is something implied though not directly expressed.  It lies beneath and is not obvious, but it can be the cause of the issue or situation.  Underlying is asking, “What is causing me to feel this way?”  “Why am I angry, sad, afraid?”  “Why is he acting like that or why is she crying?”  When we have a stomach ache, we ask ourselves, “What did I eat that may have upset it?  Or am I worried and upset about something that is affecting my stomach?”  This is how you interpret underlying in your daily lives. It is not something you immediately are aware of but it can cause how you are feeling and experiencing life.

The underlying cause of sadness and anxiety may be the loss of the person who brought joy and security to life.  You appear to function outwardly but inwardly hidden in the underbrush you are overwhelmed and do not know how to take steps into this different life.  You attempt living in the moment but underneath it may feel fake and empty.  When you feel like something is different or you are not quite your normal self, begin to process what is going on inside.  Search for what may bother, irritate, or what has changed, and what is the cause or root of these different feelings.  It is admitting that you feel this way because of this underlying issue or feeling.  Then it is talking it out with yourself, praying it out, or sharing with a friend.

As you think about your life and how you feel, there is something underlying that may be keeping you from finding peace and contentment in what you now have.  You may name it anxiety or fear.  But what is causing this anxiety and fear to flood your thoughts and feelings?  Sometimes with fear it is not wanting to be alone and afraid this is how life will always be.  It may be the loss of your safety and security.  Life did not turn out like you had expected which is the cause of your negativity, fear, or anxiousness.

You may go too far out in planning and figuring out what will happen.  The underlying cause of anxiety is focusing too far into the future and trying to fix and plan for every possible scenario.  It is worrying about everything and believing if you worry about it, you can prevent the bad from happening.  This is what is feeding the anxiety and fear.  It is bringing yourself back to the present, looking around you, and finding fulfillment in these moments.

It is staying more in the present.  It is acknowledging where these feelings come from and releasing their control.  See the beauty of the underbrush and learn from it.

Elaine J. Sturtz

Living In The Different