The “Fig Tree” metaphor comes from The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. The metaphor deems the figs on the tree your choices in life, capturing the paralysis that can come from having too many choices and the fear of making the wrong one. In the book, Plath describes wanting to be a famous poet, brilliant professor, travel the world, start a business, and many more all at once. She explains this all while regretting she cannot live 100 lives in one. Yet while everyone gets tangled in the branches of the tree waiting out to pick the perfect choice, there is something they do not consider… you end up starving to death while choosing your correct path, watching choices rot away because you’ve waited too long.

While you are stuck picking opportunities, they pass by you and disappear. A few things to get you out of that, “If I choose the wrong fig my life is ruined forever” mindset, that one fig does not determine your future forever! You can go back, revisit old ideas if you end up not liking what you choose. Your life goes the pace you choose it to. Another thing to consider is that the fig (path) you choose will leave you with a seed (opportunity) to plant a whole new tree with new choices, new experiences, and so much more to offer. Change and evolution may be scary, but it also might be better than before.

Lots of times students struggle with comparison and schoolwork, most of it comes from the future. Questions and statements like, “Who will I be in a few years?”, “She is so much more ahead of me,” and “I’m never getting anywhere” seem to be a constant in our minds. Get them out! Life is so much more than a grade or someone else’s life to be stuck in your mind like a broken record. Go out and experience love, life, success, failure, and everything you can get your hands on because, that, is what should be in your head. Every poor experience you are stuck on right now will be a piece of dust later. You will remember the greater times you’ll have more than you will the worst. Don’t be stuck, go out and experience!