I was attending a training workshop at the weekend in London and I heard a metaphor that I like to use every now and then, but had not used in a while and it got me thinking.  We use stories a lot in our work as they help put things into context sometimes.  One I use more so at the moment is the story of the philosophy professor and half full glass of water.

A philosophy lecturer goes into her lecture room, students already there – she goes to the desk at the front and half fills a glass of water – the students thinking, here we go – it’s the glass half full or half empty discussion.  The lecturer picks up the glass takes a small sip and asks the room –

“How heavy is this glass of water?”

The students slightly taken aback by the change in tack, start making suggestions as to the weight of the glass.  The lecturer lets everyone have a go at guessing the weight before replying –

“The weight of the glass is irrelevant – what is relevant is how long I hold onto it for! As the longer I hold the glass the heavier it will become! Even the slightest of weight, tightly held onto over time can come to be a heavy crippling weight!

So here is something for you to try – Hold both of your hands out, palms upwards and not resting on anything – Think of something that has been bothering you, causes you annoyance or possibly some stress or anxiousness. Connect with that feeling, I wonder if it will be in your stomach, chest, shoulder, head or somewhere else? Pick one of your upturned hands and imagine just putting all those feelings into the palm of the hand in which you have chosen to feel these things in, now just allow them to flow into that palm.

Now think of something you enjoy, that makes you happy, makes you smile and feel good, and allow those feelings to flow into that palm, just feel them there, and I wonder as you do –

Which hand is heavier?

The weight of thoughts! and just like putting the glass down, releasing its weight, just allow yourself to drop all that weight out of your hand.

As you do let me tell you about the story I heard at the weekend, which took me on this little thought journey.

There were two monks on a pilgrimage, one older, more wiser than the other.  On their journey, they came to a swollen river and at the fording point, where normally stepping stones would useable,  was a young lady in her best clothes and shoes.  The older monk asked the young lady if there was an issue as she was looking very tense and concerned.  The young lady informed the monks that she was on her way to a wedding, her shoes were new and she was not very confident around water.

The older monk, smiled at her and said not an issue climb onto my back at I will carry you across, which he did, setting her down safe and dry on the other side.  The young lady was overjoyed and thanked the monk profusely before skipping on her way to the wedding, allowing the two monks to continue their journey.

For the rest of the day the younger monk, could be heard mumbling under his breath, shaking his head and hunching his shoulders.  That evening as the monks stopped to have some food the older monk enquired as to what was bothering and concerning the younger monk, to which he replied “ We are not allowed to speak to ladies and definitely not have any contact, let alone be carrying them!!!!” to which the older monk replied “ Very true, however I set that young lady down over 6 hours ago – why are you still carrying her?”