Rise Through the Invisible Winds

7/14/25

Rise Through the Invisible Winds

"If I wanted to shake this tree with my hands I should not be able to do it. But the wind, which we do not see, tortures and bends it in whatever direction it pleases. It is by the invisible hands that we are bent and tortured worst."
- Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra, “Of the Tree on the Mountainside”

Strength in the Storm

Thus Spoke Zarathustra has long been one of my favorite books. It was a foundational influence in shaping my life. Its metaphors, especially those surrounding growth through suffering, have stayed with me over the years. It’s rich in symbolism, allegory, and poetic language, exploring the depths of human psychology, purpose, and transformation.

This particular section is one of my favorites. It discusses how our inner world: our fears, our doubts, and the emotional storms that we cannot see, often shape us more than the visible challenges in our life. Nietzsche reminds us that these “invisible winds” can bend and twist us. But they can also forge resilience, authenticity, and strength if we face them with courage.

It’s not about silencing our emotions, but learning how to rise through them and with them to become someone who is not broken by the storm, but one that dances with it and allows it to forge us in its fire and further our personal evolution.

The Wind and the Oak

Imagine a young oak tree planted at the edge of a cliff. It stands where few dare to grow, where the wind and the storms are fierce. One day, a stronger tree in the valley scoffs and says, “You’ll never survive up there. The wind will break you.”

Years go by. In the safety of the valley, the tall tree stretches upward, its growth easy but shallow. Meanwhile, the oak on the cliff has grown slower, its limbs gnarled and weathered, shaped by every storm and the relentless howl of the wind.

One day, a brutal storm tears through the valley. The proud tree, untested by hardship, is ripped from the earth. But high on the cliff, the twisted oak stands firm. Every gust it endured made it stronger. The invisible wind made it what it was meant to be.

We are that oak. Bent, but unbroken. Tested, but not defeated.

How to Counteract the Invisible Hands That Torture Us

If the “invisible hands” are emotional forces, then how do we withstand them? Even better, how do we grow because of them?

Here are five powerful ways to counter and rise with your emotions:

1. Name the Wind: Awareness is power. What are your invisible winds? Is it anxiety? Negative thoughts? People-pleasing? Believing that you are a magnate for bad luck. Thinking that you are a victim? The more clearly that you name what it is that you are feeling, the less control it has over you. Journaling is a powerful tool here. Write your thoughts without judgment.

2. Challenge the Narrative: Our mind often tells stories like, “I’m not good enough,” “This always happens to me,” or “I’ll fail if I try.” Challenge yourself and ask: Is this true? Who would I be without this belief? Replace toxic scripts with truths rooted in courage and growth. Use affirmations like: “I am growing stronger, even when it’s hard,” or “I am not my fear - I am the one facing it.”

3. Strengthen Your Roots: Like the tree on the cliff, you must go deep to stand tall. What grounds you? Meditation, spirituality, nature, creative expression, close friendships: whatever connects you to something larger than yourself. Make these a non-negotiable part of your life.

4. Build Your Emotional Armor: Practice emotional resilience through daily habits:

   • Exercise to discharge emotional tension

   • Breathwork to calm the nervous system

   • Sleep to reset the mind

   • Boundaries to protect your energy

   The stronger your daily rituals, the more you can withstand the storm.

5. Speak the Unseen: You are not meant to suffer in silence. Speak your truth. Reach out. Join communities. Find therapists, mentors, or even soul-aligned friends who see you. Vulnerability is not weakness. It is how we turn pain into power.

You Were Built for Higher Ground

This quote reminds us that the most powerful challenges we face usually are not visible. And when they come, they often don’t come with warning signs. They arrive as hurricane – a torrent of emotions. And though they are internal they are powerful: fear, insecurity, pressure, doubt, emotional pain. These are the winds that shape us. And the higher your calling, the stronger those winds may become.

But those invisible winds don’t have to destroy you. They can instead reveal your strength. They bend you, yes. But they can also shape you into someone extraordinary. The stronger the wind, the deeper your roots can grow and the more flexible your branches can become.

So, if you're feeling tossed around by life, take heart. It is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign that you are growing. That you are testing yourself. Keep going! The invisible hands are there to teach you what you are made of. They are there to take you higher…

The Philosopher Poet

Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) was a visionary German philosopher, poet, and cultural critic whose ideas have reshaped modern thought. Through poetic brilliance and philosophical depth, he challenged readers to rise above mediocrity, break through inherited beliefs, and live with radical authenticity. His most celebrated works, including Thus Spoke Zarathustra, Beyond Good and Evil, and Ecce Homo, encourage us to embrace suffering as part of becoming who we truly are. His legacy is one of radical empowerment: to rise through suffering, to think independently, and to embrace the full potential of the human spirit.