De-Stress.pdf Mar-Apr 2014 | Page 31

Appearance, it’s what’s inside A group of Ivy League alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite – telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups… and then you began eyeing each other’s cups. Now consider this: life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savour the coffee, not the cups!” We all hold the Key Once upon a time, a village was occupied by the invaders, and all its people were imprisoned. They suffered for months in the cold, sleeping on rocks, and hardly ate good food. On seeing the state of the people of their village, four philanthropists decided they would serve them. The first one decided he would offer warm clothes, shoes, and socks to the people who were dying of cold. So, he did! He thought he did the best deed, and walked away happily! The second man decided, he would provide blankets, and a cozy bed and a pillow for all the prisoners to sleep, and so, he did! He thought he did the best deed, and walked away happily! The third philanthropist watched the people crave for good good; she decided to offer them a healthy meal and clean drinking water every day. So, she did! She thought she had done the best deed of all, and she walked away happily! The fourth little man wondered, “What am I to do for my people?” He woke up in the middle of the night, sneaked into the prison, stole the key from the guard, and released all of them! And, the people walked away happily… - www.inspiringstories-soulheartmind.com 31