The following is a well know Taoist story that makes us this about whether the outcome of an event is as good or bad as we think it is.
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There once was a sage, old farmer who had worked his crops for many years with his beloved stallion.
One day, the farmer enters his stallion into a local competition and wins first prize. His neighbors all congratulate him on his good fortune. “Fantastic,” they say. “Maybe” the farmer replies.
Soon after, having seen the quality of the stallion in the show, thieves steal the horse. Upon hearing the news, his neighbors come to visit. “Such bad luck,” they comment sympathetically. “Maybe,” the farmer replies.
The horse is spirited and breaks away from the thieves. It runs wild for a time and bands together with a herd of free-roaming, wild horses. In winter, when food becomes scarce, the stallion moves back to familiar farmland and greets the farmer with this new herd. “How wonderful that your horse has returned and with all these other horses” the neighbors celebrate. “Maybe,” replies the old man.
The following day, his son tries to ride one of the untamed horses and is thrown, breaking his leg. The neighbors again offer their sympathy on his misfortune. “How awful”, they commiserate. “Maybe” considers the old farmer.
Soon after, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing that the son’s leg is broken, they pass him by. The neighbors are happy for the farmer. “What a relief for you,” They say. “Maybe,” is the farmer’s response.
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This story demonstrates how we immediately jump to conclusions about whether something is good or bad. We judge circumstances and situations by the expectation that we associate with them. However, everything is relative and the stance we have taken can easily be shifted with a slight change in context.
This suggests that there is no absolute value that can be placed making something good or bad. The situation is just what it is. We attempt to place meaning on it to rationalize and to give ourselves a sense of control but actually, we are just dealing with the here and now as it occurs at this moment.
Another message underpinning this story is that we have the opportunity to see the good even in the direst of circumstances. If we pay attention to what we are thinking, we can catch it when we judge something as negative and look for the hidden gifts in the experience.
Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay
