Albert Einstein said, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
When we look at nature, especially during this time of year, we see new growth everywhere. Flowers are peeking above the soil; buds are begging to open and show off their colors. They have been dormant for a season. They have rested, but they will not remain asleep.
As human beings, we also need growth. From the time we are born, we are growing. First physically, then emotionally, psychologically, intellectually, and spiritually. As with any living object, growth comes after being nurtured. As humans, we are nurtured when we have relationships with others. Those close to us give us the support we need in order to test the waters of life, knowing there is a safety net waiting to catch us if required. They often accept us as is. These people are crucial in our lives. It is because of them that we feel confident in being able to search the world for whatever it is we are looking for. But we also need people who may not share our same beliefs or perspectives. You know the ones; they seem always to see life the opposite way you do. If you say the sky is blue, they say it is gray. They can frustrate you, that’s true. But these are the ones who challenge us the most and force us to grow. These are the ones who cause us to know what we believe and why we believe it or to be at least willing to figure it out.
It is while we are “figuring it out” that we have to entertain the possibility that there are multiple answers to the same question. There has to be. We all have different experiences, so one person’s answer is based on his experiences and the perspective he has formed due to his life. It is only through exploring the other answers to questions that we come to understand the bigger picture. We can rehearse and recite the answers we have been given our entire lives simply because that’s what we were taught, or we can dare to see life from a different perspective and see if we still hold the same beliefs once we have new information. Or perhaps it prompts us to search deeper for different answers. There is nothing wrong with that. That is how we become educated. That is how we grow. To stay stagnant in a mindset and refuse to search for truth makes you a prisoner, never allowing you to accept new ideas or understand differing viewpoints.
In nature, plants tend to lean toward the sun. The sun enables the process of photosynthesis to take place, which is a conversion of light, oxygen, and water into energy. This energy is needed in order for the plants to grow and bloom and produce. Humans are the same way. We need to be fed in order to grow. Not just food, but information. And this information can shape our beliefs, morals, and opinions.
And it’s not just for our well-being. Personal growth is of value to everyone around us and society. When we grow emotionally and psychologically, we become more loving and compassionate. This enables us to converse with people with different viewpoints and respect their opinions, even if we disagree. How much nicer would the world be if we lived alongside each other without feeling the need to be right about everything all the time, patiently acknowledging different values or ideas without judging them because they differ from our own.
There is a quote by Zen Shin that says, “A flower does not think of competing to the flower next to it, it just blooms.”
When we grow, there is no need to compete with others. We can grow and bloom and show off. And the growth we experience, when shared with others, becomes seeds that are planted into another person.
Like nature, we were not created to remain dormant and never experience new growth. We were created to stand up tall, throw our arms open, and bloom.