Look Out For That Tree!

Let me take you back to a time when I was eleven and freshly minted as a Scout. Our troop was excited because one of the guys had brought along a beautiful, polished wood toboggan. We found the perfect hill. Steep enough for a thrill but not too dangerous, or so we thought. There was only one problem: a massive tree stood proudly at the bottom, smack in the middle of our path.

But, being young and invincible, we saw it as no big deal. After all, there was plenty of space on either side of that tree. We hopped on the toboggan, brimming with confidence and ready for action. As we hurtled down the hill, the tree loomed closer, and it became clear that a decision had to be made. “Just lean!” someone yelled.

Simple, right? In theory, yes. In practice, half of us leaned left, half leaned right, and the toboggan, utterly confused, went straight ahead, right into the tree.

Reflecting on this glorious misadventure, I realize we were so focused on that tree, on what we didn’t want, that we ended up heading straight for it. The more we fixated on avoiding it, the closer we seemed to get to it.

We often find ourselves fixating on what we don’t want, the problems, challenges, and hurdles. This negative focus that we are sure to avoid keeps us from having the conversations on what we should be doing.

So, next time you find yourself fixated on the “tree” in your path, remember to shift your focus. Lean together with those around you, and steer toward the open spaces of possibility.