Emptiness? Weariness? Loneliness? Relationships?
Too little money? Too much to do?
Whatever happens isn't nearly as important as how we react to it
Take the case of
The Farmer's Donkey...
One day a farmer's old donkey fell down
a well.
The poor terrified animal cried piteously (click to hear) and the farmer tried to devise a way to get him out.
Unfortunately a rescue would be a huge expensive task, so the farmer decided, considering the age of the donkey, the disuse of the well and the opportunity to clear some offensive piles of excrement from around the farm, that was just not worthwhile saving the donkey.
The farm
labourers grabbed shovels and began to shovel old piles of manure into the well.
At first, when the donkey realized what was happening he cried pitifully.
Then, to everyone's amazement, he quietened down and let out some happy
braying sounds.
Many shovels of manure later, the farmer looked down the well to see what was
happening and was astonished at what he saw...
With every shovel of manure that hit his back, the ass was shaking it off and taking a step up.
As the farm workers continued to
shovel manure on top of the animal, he continued to shake it off and take a step up.
Pretty soon, to everyone's amazement, the
donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off!
After this incident, the donkey's life entered a new and better phase - he had become a local celebrity! - Never short of visitors bearing succulent treats and in great demand to make guest appearances at fairs and fetes..
---oOo---
The Moral of this Old Folk Tale?
Sometimes life shovels manure on us.
The trick to getting out of our prison of suffering is to assess the situation, shake off the debris, and take a step up - a step of learning and growing. Otherwise we stay stuck in a deep well of victim consciousness.
EVERY ADVERSITY CAN BE TURNED INTO A STEPPING STONE
Every rainbow is an opportunity!
(What happens to us isn’t nearly as important as what we do with it!)
more stress management tips at: www.stress-counselling.co.uk
