THE WALL
"Change is a door that can only be opened from the inside."
He was the ruler of a huge empire and the time had come to seek an able and wise successor who would have all the skills and abilities to take over after he had retired. He assembled the best people he knew and asked qualifi ed consultants to seek others in distant lands that might have what it takes.
On a particular day, all the possible successors were gathered together in a magnificent hall. The ruler addressed the gathering. "I have a problem and I want to know who among you has the ability to solve it? What you see in the brick wall behind me is the biggest, mightiest, and heaviest door in the empire. Who among you, without help, has the power to open it?"
Some of the possible successors simply shook their heads and left almost immediately. It was just too big a problem. Others examined the door more closely, discussed different options while remembering theories of problem solving they had learned, thought about it some more before admitting defeat. It seemed an impossible task.
Have you ever felt that a task was too diffi cult to overcome? Have you ever felt like you've hit a brick wall, a roadblock or barrier? Or a problem was just too diffi cult to solve or that you're just going around in circles? Sometimes it’s just a build up of a series of disappointments and setbacks that knock you off balance and it’s easier to sit and wallow in the mire rather than try and stand!
Have you ever said to yourself, 'I wish I was in a relationship or in a better one,' 'I wish I knew what I wanted,' 'I wish the phone would ring,' 'I wish I had more money,' or 'if only I had a more understanding boss.' 'What should I do next?' or 'why is this happening to me?' Maybe you feel frustrated and can't fi gure out why. Or perhaps you want something to happen but you don’t know what exactly. How can you make sure you feel happy and fulfi lled? It’s like being stuck in a traffic jam and you don't know what's causing the jam! Or entering a maze and wondering in which direction to turn and if you'll ever find a way out!
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