The Tree of Life.

Think about positive attributes, relationships, life experiences, and beliefs that have fostered contentment in your life (i.e. satisfaction, fulfillment, gratification) and create a metaphor of your life. This exercise was courtesy of Paula Hammond. Consider:

SYMBOLIZING YOUR LIFE AS A TREE

Roots

Write down where you come from. This can be your hometown, state, country, etc. You can also write down the culture you grew up in, traditions, a club or organization that shaped your youth, or a parent/guardian (i.e. neighborhood experiences, church involvement, baking with grandmother, summer vacations)

Ground

Write down the things you choose to do on a weekly basis. These should not be things you are forced to do, but rather things you have chosen to do for yourself (i.e. quiet time, exercise, reading, pampering, date night)

Trunk

Write your skills and values. Consider writing your values starting at the base of the trunk going up (i.e. dignity, respect, faith in God, wellness, family). Transition into skills and talents. Consider your spiritual gifts as well (i.e. administrator, teacher, hospitality, mercy, compassion, exhorter, evangelism, discerner). Indicate a natural progression from roots to values to skills.

Branches

Write down your hopes, dreams, and wishes. These can be personal, communal, or general to all of mankind. Think both long and short-term. Spread them around the various branches.

Leaves

Write down the names of those who are significant to you in a positive way. Your friends, family, pets, heroes, etc.

Fruit

Legacies that have been passed down to you. You can begin by looking at the names you just wrote on leaves and thinking about the impact they’ve given you over the years. This can be material, such as inheritance but most often this will be attributes such as courage, generosity, kindness, belief in God, etc.

Flowers and Seeds

Write down the legacies you wish to leave to others. What impact do you want to make?

So there you have it. Hate drawing myself since I am terrible at it. But as you can see, I did one and found it a solid exercise to reflect on moving ahead. Hope you will try it. No doubt I am sure you will value it.

Cheers!

Author: Dr. Shelly

Dr. Shelly Cameron is a leadership strategist, author, and executive coach dedicated to helping individuals uncover their purpose, elevate their leadership potential, and achieve meaningful success. She is the creator of the GreenLight Leadership Framework. As the curator of SuccessfulLeaders.net, Dr. Shelly shares insights drawn from her extensive experience in organizational development, human resources, and personal growth. She is passionate about empowering professionals to navigate change, manage stress, and design fulfilling lives through intentional goal setting, self-discovery, and continuous learning. Dr. Shelly's research on Success Strategies was published in the JAABC Business Journal. She is also the author of several books, including works on leadership, success, and cultural intelligence. View all posts by Dr. Shelly