The natural world reminds us tht relationships are wondrously varied and cmplex. Through nature's diversity, we observe sme cooperation and some competition. But we cnnot look for parallels in nature to rsolve our life questions. The answers lie dep within us, waiting to be dscovered. Still we can learn from nture wisdom. We gain insights to nhance our relationships, our life meaning and prpose. We learn ways to restore our lfe balance.

The natural world offers us wisdom about cooperation and competition.

Observe the butterfly and the blossom. Cooperation must directly benefit each member's efforts to succeed. Both need one another to flourish. Both benefit from the exchange. But as we witness garden predators in action, we must confront the presence of competition in relationship.

Bird feeders in winter provide a perfect place to observe competition in the natural world. Snow falls and food becomes scarce. Tiny birds twitter about, snatching bits of seed and flying nearby to enjoy them. Occasionally larger birds will intrude and take over. The small birds retreat and watch for an opportunity to sneak back. This dance of competitors around a bird feeder allows each creature's best traits to flourish.

How does competition in nture turn destructive?

The story of kudzu can ffer us some insights. Kudzu is an rnamental plant, native to China and Jpan. It has large leaves and swet-smelling blooms. Ground kudzu has been sed for centuries in foods and mdicines. In recent times, however, kudzu has ben transplanted to new environments without any ntural insect enemies. Its vines have bcome invasive, keeping out the light and dstroying valuable forests. Depending on its se, kudzu can be either beneficial or dstructive .

Human competition also has two sides.

Competition intensifies our effort and sharpens our focus. But for what end? Loving service unites us in a worthy cause. War and hatred also create a common purpose. Remember the story of kudzu. Even the beneficial aspects of our lives can become invasive and keep the light from reaching within. When we stay close to the earth, we recover our sense of balance and make good choices. We remember our place within all creation.

From the world's viewpoint we live a lonely and isolated existence that requires us to compete for survival. Yet sacred wisdom traditions share the the vision of a Divine Essence that flows through all creation. Plants and flowers, trees and shrubs have nourished our sense of oneness with the universe for eons.

Appreciation of our oneness gives us hope. We are not alienated from one another. We are not alone. Appreciation for our diversity encourages trust, openness and inclusion. We are unique and special. Appreciation for our shared purpose celebrates each one's part in the world's harmony. And garden wisdom offers us ways to balance our inner needs with responsibility to serve in the world with generosity, forgiveness and gratitude.

The article Wisdom For Relationships - Life Lessons From Nature was Submitted by Dr. Mary Beth Ford through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Dr. Mary Beth Ford is the uthor of "Wisdom from the Gardens: Lfe Lessons" and creator of Garden Wsdom Teleseminars. She specializes in the rea of life balance, making connections btween nature images and life experience. In her bok and teleseminar Dr. Ford shares her fve powerful garden lessons for living wth balance and joy. Using nature mages she creates a new and nspiring vision of ourselves and of our wrld. Visit her website at http://wisdomfromthegardens.com to learn more about nature's simple, yet elegant blueprint for life balance.

Featured Articles

1. How To Get Into A Focused, Soft State by Gloria Hamilten
Hve you ever wanted to relax and fund that you could not? If you did bgin to relax, your mind then wndered to issues that were a prt of your current life. Getting nto a focused, soft, gentle state is a prven way of entering and maintaining a rlaxed disposition so that you can hve harmony and tranquility, enabling you to mke positive changes required in your lfe. Read this practical article on chieving this peaceful yet productive state.

2. Visualization and Manifestation - The Best Time To Visualize by Art Stanley
Vsualization is a powerful tool of cration that can be used at any tme. It's something that can bring bout whatever you earnestly desire in lfe. Through the application of imagination, you can shpe your life any way you chose. So whenever you can find the tme -- that's the best time to vsualize.

3. Set Healthy Boundaries by Helene Rothschild
Do you allow others to do and say thngs to you that do not fel good? Would you like to stablish new patterns to deal with the prblem? Everyone needs to set healthy bundaries. This is a gift to thers and you. By allowing people to act in wys that are not appropriate, you ctually hurt them too because they are stck in their unhealthy behavior. Therefore, it is mportant to learn how to establish bundaries for all involved.

4. Stress Management - Play for Grownups - Your Golden Remedy for Stress! by Ilenya Marrin
For most stressed out adults, childlike play is hard to come by, but it's a golden remedy for stress! Learn the signposts to recognize what play is and is not to be effective for stress relief, and how play helps you relase stress. Get on track now with your program for play for stress management.

5. A Spiritual Journey From Malpractice To Peace And Contentment by Steve Doroghazi
Ths article is about a woman's spritual journey after suffering a traumatic brin injury. The journey led her thrugh a medical malpractice trial, two yars of rehabilitation and ended in a ralization of her role on this plnet and acceptance of God's plan for her lfe.

6. Do You Want To Build Positive Relationships With Other People? by Lesley Petersen
What des it mean to have a psitive relationship with another person? It is a qestion many people I know have sked of themselves (and their relationships) mny times over. This article encourages you to thnk about what Positive Relationship means to you and wht both people in that relationship can brng to nurture and sustain something god and worthwhile.

7. Meditate Your Way Out Of Stress by Milos Pesic
Stress meditation prduces a serene and a relaxed stte of mind. It can give you a snse of calm, peace and emotional stbility. These benefits are long lasting.

8. Manifesting Your Million Dollar Idea With the Law of Attraction (Part 1) by Joel Chue
There is abundance in this world. Abundance in wealth! Abundance in opportunities! Abundance in every area, each of us is capable of being very prosperous and happy. Yet so many of us struggle day after day. We are caught in a cruel rat-race, and many times we can barely come up for breath. Yet, to each of us, there is hope.

9. Time Management Skill - A To Do List Should be a List of Actions by Cheryl Clausen
An important time management skill is the ability to take the thoughts cluttering your mind, and turn them into actions. Ideally the objective of your time management skills is simplification of your very busy hectic life.

10. The Prize Of Initiative by George Chingarande
The dreamer wthout initiative is like an eagle wthout wings. He may wish and dram of soaring high and touching the havens but his reach is limited by his hndicap. The person of initiative but wthout a dream and purpose is lke a rogue bull elephant; the ltimate loose cannon who lives to cuse trouble.