by: Stephanie Gonzalez, CEO & Managing Partner photo by: Stephanie Ringleb Photography Achieving a meditative state has not been an easy journey for my active mind. Four years ago, I explored something new with my morning meditations. I started to attach myself to the vision of a huge tree in a field. Closing my eyes and thinking about a tree helped my mind achieve my desired “neutral” state quicker because I was anchoring to a strong and tangible visual. Over the last couple of years, I have taken deeper control of my mind and the vision of this tree. My mind has moved from seeing the tree…to now being the tree. When I first started to think about using animate objects to help me ground myself, I thought about a tree "over there" in the distance. Literally, the words and feelings I connected to were “that tree, that trunk, those roots.” I was describing it as if I was observing it from afar, from a 25-foot distance. I have found a profound difference in my mental strength (and my agility and stability when dealing with challenges throughout my day) when I speak about the tree in first-person. “My trunk, my roots, my branches.” The key for me to elevate my meditative state has been to literally visualize and feel each word in an as-is state… I do not say these words out loud. My mouth does not move; my mind does. My mind speaks these words – aloud – to my subconscious. “I am a tree: I stand firmly on top of the world. I stand strong, tall, and wide and my trunk connects – from the bottom to the top – from our Mother Earth all the way to the outer limits of our universe. My roots sink deep into the grass, the dirt, the mud, the sand, the pebbles, the rock, the sea, and all the way deep into the tar, the oil, and the hot lava magma at the earth's core. The magma does not burn me – it makes me stronger – and it is central to my root system. The earth, and all of its elements, penetrate my trunk to feed me and make me indestructible. My roots pull all of that energy to help my trunk stretch far and high into the sky. Every day my trunk grows new branches and spawns new leaves that reach from the air, through the vast blue sky, beyond the clouds, piercing our atmosphere and puncturing into the deep dark cosmos. It is here I can see all the stars and the planets. I can easily reach and touch the moon, the sun, and the stars. Here I securely stand. I see, touch, and feel everything from here; flexing and bending with the changing climate and seasons. The shifting seasons and unpredictable nature of Mother Earth give me power and agility. My roots pull food from the deepest part of the earth’s center to create a strong and stable core. The tops and tips of my leaves and needles connect to our limitless universe for light, vision, and wisdom. It is here that I stand living and pulsing energy for myself. It is here that I stand and I am able to be magic for myself and for others. I am a tree: I am life, I am shelter, I am light, I am love, I am a guide…as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, partner, friend, leader, co-worker, and mentor. It is from this place that I achieve my full power and help all those around me to find theirs.” You might think this is silly or you might have a challenging time putting yourself in these imaginative shoes. You also might experience this exercise to be against-the-grain of your spiritual or religious beliefs. The environment we all currently face is requiring all of us to be at our best. This activity keeps me stable at my core and launches me into my day with vigor. I encourage you to find and create a daily ritual that helps you actualize your best self!