Becoming Deeply Rooted

If you live in Texas, you know that Hurricane Beryl hit hard in mid-July. It was classified as a Category 1 hurricane, so no one expected the extent of destruction it would cause. Millions were left without electricity for over a week in the midst of the summer heat. In my community, trees lost limbs, snapped in half, or were completely uprooted. Some of these trees were already unhealthy, others were in poor environments, and a few were simply left vulnerable, exposed to the storm with nothing to protect them. Yet others faced the same storm and stood strong. As I reflected on this, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between our mental health and these trees.

Let me explain.

Think about a tree’s life: It grows in a certain environment, nurtured or neglected based on what’s around it. Some trees flourish because their roots are strong and they have plenty of nutrients, while others look fine on the outside but struggle below the surface.

Similarly, some people look healthy from the outside. They appear to be a happy, outgoing, social person, but internally they are barely hanging on. When life uproots them, it’s often a shock to those around them. For them, even small challenges can leave them feeling completely uprooted.

Then, there are people who are like unhealthy trees. Perhaps they’ve never developed strong support systems or healthy coping mechanisms, much like a tree that grew in rocky soil or without proper care. For them, even small challenges leave them feeling completely uprooted.

Finally, there are those that weather the storm. They may lose a few limbs along the way, but they have the support and tools to remain rooted, resilient, and able to recover. It’s not that they don’t experience hardship—far from it—but they have the resources to bounce back. They lean on their friends, family, faith, or professional help when life gets tough, and because of that, they stand firm even when everything around them feels like it’s falling apart.

Here’s the thing, we cannot always predict what storms will effect us. Just like with Hurricane Beryl, something seemingly small or insignificant can cause severe damage, leaving us with broken branches and exposed roots.

No matter the stage you are in, or what kind of “tree” you feel like today, there is hope. Growing deeper roots starts with developing new tools to handle everyday life. This might look like developing new coping skills, leaning into spiritual practices, finding support— whether from family, friends, a community group, or a therapist. It’s about equipping yourself with the resources needed to face whatever life throws at you because, let's be honest, no one knows when the next storm will hit or how we’ll be affected.

The good news? You don’t have to face it alone, and you don’t have to stay uprooted. Together, we can build stronger, deeper roots.