Manzanita – The Power of Resilience

One of the most resilient species of bush we have in Oregon is the Manzanita. If you’ve ever tried to walk through a Manzanita bush, you’ll know just how tough and persistent these plants can be. With their brown stems and green leaves, they can withstand being pushed and still bounce back into place. They have incredible strength and are incredibly hard to get rid of. As I’ve encountered Manzanita plants while out in the forest, I’ve often been reminded of the parallels between their resilience and our own human capacity for resilience. Even in the harshest of conditions, the Manzanita persists – and so can we. When our lives seem to be going wrong or we’re struggling with difficulties, we can choose to learn from the example of the Manzanita. We too can be tough, flexible, and able to bounce back stronger than before. Whatever pushes us and strains us can actually make us grow more resilient, if we decide to let it. The key is in our choice. As the saying goes, “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” – but that’s only true if we choose to let it make us stronger. We must decide what we will do with the wounds and struggles we face. Who will we reach out to? What resources will we call upon to help us through the difficult times? For me, I often turn to my family and loved ones, because I know they will accept and care for me no matter what. But the most important relationship is the one we have with ourselves. We must learn to never reject ourselves, no matter what happens. It’s so easy to be harsh on ourselves when we fail or make a mistake. We might call ourselves “stupid” or a “failure” – but these self-rejecting words only serve to wound us further and make it harder to be resilient. Instead, we need to become aware of this negative self-talk and consciously choose to respond differently. When those harsh thoughts arise, we can pause, notice them, and then counter them with more compassionate, self-accepting statements. “I just noticed my mind wants to say I’m a failure, but the truth is I tried something, and it didn’t work out as planned. That’s okay – I learned from it, and I believe in myself. I am strong, and I will continue to grow.” By replacing self-rejection with self-acceptance, we empower ourselves and cultivate the resilience we need to overcome life’s challenges. Just like the Manzanita, we can be bent and strained, but never broken. The next time you encounter a hardy Manzanita plant, let it be a reminder of your own inner strength and resilience. No matter what comes your way, you have the capacity to adapt, learn, and emerge even stronger than before. All it takes is the choice to believe in yourself.