Growth Instigators Hotline

#466 A Tree. How deep are your roots?

• Aaron Havens • Season 5 • Episode 466

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Storms don’t make a strong tree; they reveal one. We take that image and turn it into a simple, workable plan for staying steady when life gusts: identify your roots and feed them on purpose. Using the everyday metaphor of a tree, we explore what “roots” really are—habits, values, and relationships that hold you in place—and how to choose the few that matter most right now.

First, we dig into physical health as a quiet force multiplier. When movement becomes routine, better choices follow: cleaner meals, calmer nights, and fewer reactive moments. Then we talk mindset with practical language—control the controllables, release the rest. Hope isn’t wishful thinking here; it’s structured attention that keeps you from fighting the wind and guides you toward the next right action when plans wobble.

From there, we turn to relationships: the everyday touch points with partners, kids, friends, and teams that either buffer stress or amplify it. Small rituals, quick repairs, and honest praise become architecture, not fluff. We also open up about faith and reflection, including short daily practices that center meaning beyond achievements. Whether through prayer, meditation, or a quiet walk, that inner alignment turns setbacks into signals rather than verdicts. And we make the case for fun as a genuine root—laughter and play that restore energy, keep perspective, and make commitment sustainable.

If you’ve felt wobbly lately or just want to reinforce what already works, this conversation will help you name your anchors and take one small step to strengthen them today. Press play, reflect on your strongest root, and share the one you’ll water this week. If this sparked something, subscribe, leave a review, and pass it to a friend who needs steadier ground.

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SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to message 466 of the Growth Instigators Hotline, where we examine an everyday normal object and assign it a deeper meaning. I'm Aaron Havens, your host and growth coach. What can a tree remind us of today? As I think about a tree, I I just smile. I have so many thoughts. And one of the first thoughts I have is your roots. Like, how deep are your roots? How deep do they go? Of course, you might ask, what setting are you asking about? If you're asking about the roots in my city, nah, I've only lived here a year. I moved here a year ago. Or maybe my family? Yeah, for sure. I watch football with my Uncle Jimmy every Sunday. Or maybe uh your faith when you think about roots? Yep. I'll even go to church this Christmas Eve. Well, who knows what roots I'm speaking of? To each of us, our roots are different. What keeps you firmly standing is the question. Like an oak tree, firmly standing when the winds are swirling. How deep are your roots? And can you identify what keeps you stable? Okay, me, this is what I've learned in my few short years on earth. My physical health is so important. I need to exercise. If I exercise, guess what? I'm eating healthier, I'm drinking less, I'm sleeping more, my physical health is important. Just encounter me on one day when my pinky's a little hurt, and I'm a grumpy, grumpy old man. My physical health is important. Another one is mentally for me. Staying positive and hopeful and knowing, you know what, it's all gonna work out. Control the controllables and let the other stuff work itself out. The other one I have is my relationships with my wife, my daughter, my closest friends, and yes, even my employees. I strive hard to keep these relationships healthy and stable. And the other one I'm thinking of is honestly my faith. As my Lectio 365 app of meditation and prayer walks me through every day. Okay. And oh yeah. I also have to have a lot of fun, or I'm no fun at all. That is actually a deep root of mine. What about you? How deep are your roots and what keeps you stable? Thank you for tuning in today. You can listen to any of our past podcasts wherever you get your podcasts. If you have thoughts you'd like to share, I'd love to hear them. Contact me at growth instigators.com or leave me a message after the beep. My friends, keep instigating growth and growth and all you do.