Trusting the Process: A Reflection on Life’s Cycles and Growth
Living is one of the greatest experiences of existence. If we were more intentional about how we perceive and live our lives, we might transcend beyond the limitations of societal conditioning. So often, we move through life with a narrow focus on our responsibilities, our routines, and the expectations others place on us, that we forget to see the deeper connections between ourselves and the world around us.
Recently, I had an experience that reminded me of the wisdom inherent in nature—something we often overlook. A week ago, I noticed a plant in my home that was once thriving had suddenly lost all its leaves. Initially, I was concerned. The vibrant green life it once showed was now gone, leaving behind bare branches. My instinct was to react, to do something, to fix it. But instead, I let it be. I continued to water it, care for it as I always had, and trusted that this change was part of a process I didn’t fully understand.
As the days passed, I began to reflect on this plant and its sudden change. Maybe it wasn’t a sign of decline or something that needed saving. Maybe this was just a natural part of its evolution—an energy shift, a process it was going through. So, I let it be. I nurtured it without forcing anything, simply trusting in its ability to transform in its own time.
Today, after weeks of patient waiting, I saw the most beautiful rebirth. The plant that had seemed lifeless was sprouting new leaves, even more vibrant than before. It was a reminder that sometimes, we don’t need to interfere with or control the process. Nature is wise. It knows what it needs to grow, to shed what no longer serves it, and to begin anew.
This simple experience with my plant was a profound reflection on life. Just as the plant needed time to go through its own process, we, too, experience seasons of change, growth, and even shedding parts of ourselves that we’ve outgrown. We may not always understand why certain things happen, why we face setbacks, or why it feels like something inside us has withered. But if we trust the process and nurture ourselves through these phases, we open the door to transformation.
Much like the plant, we need space to evolve. There will be moments when we feel vulnerable or unsure, when it feels like something in us has been lost. But just as nature teaches us, growth often happens beneath the surface. We must trust that even in the quiet, unseen moments, life is still working in our favor.
It’s important to remember that life, in all its complexity, moves in cycles. There are times of abundance and times of shedding. Times of blooming and times of resting. If we can accept these cycles as part of the natural flow, we can approach our own transformations with more grace and understanding. We can stop resisting the changes and instead, embrace them as opportunities for deeper growth.
In a world that constantly pushes us to do more, achieve more, and be more, it’s easy to forget that sometimes, the most profound changes come from simply being. From allowing ourselves to go through the natural ebbs and flows of life, without judgment or resistance. To trust that just like the plant, we have an innate wisdom that knows how to heal, how to grow, and how to thrive—if we let it.
So, the next time you feel like you’re losing something, whether it’s a part of yourself or something external, take a moment to breathe. Trust the process. Remember that life is full of cycles, and just like the plant, you too will bloom again when the time is right. Nature is wise, and so are you.
—Edwin Gil