PROBLEMS, a reblog

let me share you this nice story that i have read before from one of my favorite authors, Paulo Coelho. this one's entitled "Problems." read it and surely, you will learn a lot from this.

There was once a well-known scholar, who lived in a mountain in the Himalayas. Tired of living with men, he had chosen a simple life and spent most of his time meditating.

His fame, however, was so great that people were willing to walk narrow paths, climb steep hills, swim rivers – to meet the holy man who was believed to be able to resolve any trouble of the human heart.

The wise man said nothing but asked them to sit and wait. Three days passed, and more people arrived. When there was no room for anyone else, he addressed the people who were outside his door.

“Today I will give the answer that everyone wants. But you must promise that, to have your problems solved, you will not tell the new pilgrims that I moved here – so that you can continue to live in the solitude you so much crave. Tell me your problems.”

Someone began to speak, but was soon interrupted by others, as everyone knew that this was the last public hearing that the holy man was giving. The wise man let the situation be prolonged a little, until he cried, “Silence! Write your problems down and put the papers in front of me,” he said.

When everyone finished, the wise man mixed all the papers in a basket, then said, “Keep this basket moving amongst you. Each of you will take a paper, and read it. You will then choose whether to keep your problems, or take the one given to you.”

Each person took a sheet of paper, read it, and was horrified. They concluded that what they had written, however bad it was, was not as serious as what ailed his neighbor. Two hours later, they exchanged papers amongst themselves, and each one had to put their personal problems back into his or her pocket, relieved that their distress was not as hard as they once thought.

Grateful for the lesson, they went down the mountain with the certainty that they were happier than all the others, and – fulfilling the promise made – never let anyone disturb the peace of the holy man.

***

Most of us always think that when we have a problem, we are the unluckiest person alive without thinking that there are MORE people who are experiencing more difficulties in life.

I think, it is better if we count what blessing we have in our lives than counting each problem that is coming. Problems cannot be stopped and it is better if we will embrace and face it wholeheartedly. Isn't it better if we know how lucky are we than how unlucky we are? Let us always be grateful with our lives. Life is a blessing that we must enjoy. Problems are just challenges that are given for us to be stronger because there will be more to come as we go on our way.

“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”