“A human is made of flesh and blood, unpredictable tempers and personalities, heartbreaking stories and wild hopes and dreams. They are a part of an ecosystem they didn’t create and are also creating an ecosystem simply by virture of living and breathing. They exist, they are here, theyare not unimportant, the matter. But there mattering clashes violently at times with our mattering and the things that matter to us.”
― Lore Ferguson Wilbert, “The Understory: An Invitation to Rootedness and Resilience From the Forest Floor”
Listen to Tree 103 & Wisdom from the Forest Floor
284. Tree 103 and the Wisdom of the Forest
What does it mean to find rootedness and resilience in the face of life's complexities? In this episode, we invite you to explore this profound question with Lore Ferguson Wilbert, the insightful author of "The Understory." Lore opens up about her journey towards deepening her roots where she is, valuing her past while embracing the dualities of belief and unbelief, joy and sorrow, to find wholeness and peace ultimately. Through rich metaphors drawn from nature, Lore shares her experiences and the wisdom she gleaned from the forest, encouraging us all to accept life's paradoxes and deepen our sense of belonging.
Meet Lore Ferguson Wilbert: The Understory
Download The Wheel of Emotions and Learn More.
Download The Feelings Chart.
Learn More About The Anger Iceberg from The Gottman Institute.
Learn More About Tree 103 and Elder's Grove
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Q: What God whispers are you hearing today?
More Resources for Your Own Heart Journaling
At the end of Part 1’s episode, I read an excerpt from “The Understory” and shared more about the deep struggles of Lore and her husband. The storms of life wouldn’t relent. Lore shared how their marriage therapist offered “A Wheel of Emotions” to help them grow in their emotional literacy. Learn more and download these resources:
- Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions
- Positive Psychology Wheel of Emotions
- Develop More Emotional Literacy: Dive deeper into TOOL 7 of “Stronger Every Day.”
Share Your Thoughts & Comments
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Meet me on Instagram: @janellrardon, and comment on my posts concerning our conversation.
Order “Stronger Every Day: 9 Tools for an Emotionally Healthy You” and learn nine ways to strengthen your relationship with God, yourself, and others.
And please join me on Substack: heartliftcentral.substack.com.
