Two monks were traveling through a wooded area. As they came upon a river, a young woman approached them and asked for assistance in crossing the water, saying she was concerned about her ability to navigate the swift current. One of the monks hesitated, but the other quickly lifted the woman to his shoulders and carried her across. When he deposited her on the other side of the river, she thanked him and departed.
As the monks continued together on their journey, one walked with a peaceful countenance while the other appeared deep in his thoughts and seemed bothered by them. Unable to hold his silence any longer, the troubled monk finally spoke out. "Brother", he said to his fellow monk, "our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women. Yet you picked that one up and carried her on your shoulders!"
"Yes," calmly replied the other monk, " I carried her across the river. But I put her down on the other side while you seem to be still carrying her."
This story about two monks suggests that the things we carry in our minds can be more troublesome than the actions we take. Thoughts of resentment, guilt, second guessing ourselves, indecision, worry and judgement can sorely interfere with the quality of our lives if we allow them. Take a few moments and ask yourself if there is anything you are still carrying that you might be better off leaving down by the river.
If it seems that putting down such a burden requires more than awareness and a simple decision to let it go, try one or more of the following tools. Visualize yourself writing the troublesome thought in the sand of the river bank and then watch the water gently wash it away. Use the Emotional Freedom Technique. Ask your higher power for the willingness to release what you no longer wish to carry. Encase the thought in a pink bubble and see it drifting off to the horizon, getting smaller and smaller until it disappears. Write it on a piece of paper and slowly tear it into pieces. Or just go put it in the trash, virtual or streetside. Repeat as needed until your load feels lighter and you can continue on your path with more peace in your heart, perhaps even a smile on your face.
As the monks continued together on their journey, one walked with a peaceful countenance while the other appeared deep in his thoughts and seemed bothered by them. Unable to hold his silence any longer, the troubled monk finally spoke out. "Brother", he said to his fellow monk, "our spiritual training teaches us to avoid any contact with women. Yet you picked that one up and carried her on your shoulders!"
"Yes," calmly replied the other monk, " I carried her across the river. But I put her down on the other side while you seem to be still carrying her."
This story about two monks suggests that the things we carry in our minds can be more troublesome than the actions we take. Thoughts of resentment, guilt, second guessing ourselves, indecision, worry and judgement can sorely interfere with the quality of our lives if we allow them. Take a few moments and ask yourself if there is anything you are still carrying that you might be better off leaving down by the river.
If it seems that putting down such a burden requires more than awareness and a simple decision to let it go, try one or more of the following tools. Visualize yourself writing the troublesome thought in the sand of the river bank and then watch the water gently wash it away. Use the Emotional Freedom Technique. Ask your higher power for the willingness to release what you no longer wish to carry. Encase the thought in a pink bubble and see it drifting off to the horizon, getting smaller and smaller until it disappears. Write it on a piece of paper and slowly tear it into pieces. Or just go put it in the trash, virtual or streetside. Repeat as needed until your load feels lighter and you can continue on your path with more peace in your heart, perhaps even a smile on your face.
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