E05: The Tree: Growth below the surface

The Tree

Hello and welcome. My name is Alvat Garewal.

Have you ever looked at a tall, majestic tree and wondered how it became so strong, so perfectly balanced, so deeply rooted in the earth? When we see a tree standing tall, we admire its beauty, its presence, its resilience. But what we often don’t think about is everything that came before—the unseen process, the struggle beneath the surface, the groundwork that made it possible.

Today, I want to talk about The Tree—not just as a symbol of nature, but as a powerful lesson for life. Because just like trees, our growth, success, and strength don’t come from what people see on the surface. It comes from what’s happening underground, in the foundations we build long before we ever flourish.

Let’s explore what we can learn from the way trees grow and how this understanding can help us in our own journeys.

Transcript

Hello and welcome. My name is Alvat Garewal.

Today, I want to talk about The Tree. But this isn’t just about trees—it’s about life, growth, and the unseen effort behind success.

When we look at a tree, what do we see? We admire its towering height, its lush green leaves, the way it stands strong against the wind. Some trees bear fruit, some flower beautifully, and some spread their branches wide, providing shade and shelter. But what we don’t see is just as important as what we do.

A tree is not just what stands above the ground—it is deeply rooted below. Before it ever reaches its full height, before the first leaf or the first flower, there is an entire world hidden beneath the surface, working tirelessly to support its growth.

Every tree begins as a simple seed—small, seemingly insignificant. But inside that tiny seed, there is life, potential, and strength. The outer shell protects it, but the real transformation happens when the conditions are right.

And here’s something fascinating: when a seed is first planted, the earth eats into the seed. The shell begins to break down, allowing moisture and nutrients to seep in. The seed, in turn, eats into the earth—it starts to absorb everything it needs, feeding itself and growing downward before it ever begins to grow up.

Before we see any sign of life above the ground, the roots are spreading deep, anchoring, and preparing for the future. Once the foundation is strong, the plant can start its journey upwards.

Now think about this in life—when we start something new, we often feel like nothing is happening. We put in effort, but we don’t see instant results. We study for months, practice for years, and at times it feels like we’re getting nowhere. But just like the seed, the real work is happening where no one can see. The deeper we go, the more stable our future growth will be.

The most critical part of a tree’s growth happens underground. Its roots spread, finding stability, searching for nutrients. If the roots are weak, the tree will never stand tall. If the roots don’t spread wide enough, a strong wind can bring the entire tree down.

This is true for us as well. Before success is visible, we have to do the groundwork.

Think about a musician. When we see someone perform flawlessly on stage, we admire their talent. But what we don’t see are the thousands of hours spent practicing alone, the mistakes, the frustration, the discipline required to reach that level. The public only sees the final product—the grand tree—but they don’t see the deep roots that were developed over time.

Or take an athlete. We watch them win races, score goals, break records. But what we don’t see are the early morning workouts, the strict diets, the years of dedication before they ever step into the spotlight.

If you’ve ever learned a skill—whether it’s cooking, programming, writing, or anything else—you’ll know that the beginning feels slow, even frustrating. That’s because you’re still underground. You’re still growing roots. But if you persist, one day you’ll break through the surface, and people will wonder how you became so good at what you do.

When the first signs of growth appear, the plant is fragile. It’s just a small sapling, barely noticeable, easily swayed by the wind. But as time passes, it strengthens. Its roots grow deeper, its branches stretch outward, and the tree begins to take shape.

This is where many people give up too soon. They expect instant success. They want to see major results overnight. But growth—real, sustainable growth—takes time. A tree doesn’t shoot up overnight, and neither do our achievements.

There’s a Japanese saying that applies beautifully here:

"The bamboo that bends is stronger than the oak that resists."

A young tree needs to be flexible. It will face storms, it will be shaken by the wind, but as long as its roots remain strong, it will survive. In life, we need to learn resilience. Challenges will come, setbacks will happen, but if we’ve done our groundwork, we’ll stay standing.

Now let’s take another comparison—skyscrapers.

When you look at a tall building, you don’t usually think about what’s beneath it. But the taller the building, the deeper its foundation must be. A structure that soars hundreds of meters into the sky must have an incredibly solid base to keep it from collapsing.

Life works the same way. The stronger your foundation—whether it’s education, skills, discipline, or mindset—the higher you can go.

We see successful people and think, Wow, they’re amazing! But if we were to look beneath the surface, we’d see the years of preparation, the sacrifices, and the struggles they faced before reaching that level.

A weak foundation leads to instability. You might see someone rise quickly, but without a solid base, they won’t last. Think of people who gain fame overnight but can’t sustain it. Think of businesses that grow too fast but crumble because they weren’t built properly. The groundwork matters.

Have you ever walked through a forest and noticed one particular tree that stands out? Maybe it’s taller, maybe its branches are perfectly symmetrical, maybe it just looks grand and regal. That tree didn’t grow that way by accident.

That tree had to fight for sunlight, compete for nutrients, and endure storms. It had to grow strong roots before it could rise above the others.

In life, if we want to stand out—whether in our career, our skills, or our personal growth—we must do the same. It’s not about shortcuts or quick success. It’s about doing the work that no one sees, knowing that one day, it will all be worth it.

So, what’s the takeaway from all this?

1. Every great achievement starts small. Just like a seed, success begins underground where no one can see it.
2. You must do the groundwork. Before anything grows, it must establish strong roots. If you’re working hard but don’t see results yet, trust the process.
3. Growth takes time. Just like trees and skyscrapers, lasting success isn’t instant. Stay patient.
4. Challenges are part of the journey. Winds, storms, obstacles—they shape you and make you stronger.
5. Build something that lasts. Whether it’s a skill, a career, or a legacy, focus on strong foundations.

Everything great that you see—whether it’s a towering tree, a remarkable building, or a successful person—started with something small, hidden, and unremarkable. The real work happens before anyone notices. But once the roots are strong, the possibilities above ground are limitless.

So keep planting, keep growing, and trust the process.

Let me know your thoughts. What are you building in your life? How are you strengthening your foundation?

Take care, and as always,
 You are in my thoughts.