Oak

Dysfunctional state of mind

Excessive feeling of duty, incapacity to let yourself go

Innate resource / positive virtue

Perseverance / Flexibility

Positive affirmation

"I flex but I don't break; I respect myself in my entirety; I stop, so that I can resume with greater vigour!"

Oak is the Bach Flower for those who never give up, who continue to fight, trying everything, even in the most desperate situations, and who become dissatisfied with themselves if an illness prevents them from fulfilling their duties or helping others.

Oak types are naturally inclined to insist on pursuing their goals. We can say that Perseverance is their innate resource. This attitude, however, originates from the conviction that in order to feel strong and maintain one's self-esteem, it is necessary to always be active and efficient. This can lead Oak types to exhaust their resources trying to succeed at all costs in their endeavours, whether it be overcoming an illness quickly, going about their daily business or helping someone else.

Oak therefore invites us to develop the virtue of Flexibility, which is the ability to understand when it is appropriate to modify one's plans, accepting a delay in order to allow oneself the necessary rest or even giving up a goal that has become unattainable. In fact, what makes Oak truly attractive is not the insistence at all costs, but the ability to persevere on one’s own path, accepting, when inevitable, to bend under the weight of events, gently sliding, and getting back up to continue.

BACH FLOWERS