As humans, we tend to jump the gun a little bit.

The moment something bad happens, we’ll typically dwell on every negative aspect and won’t even bother exploring the plethora of positivity that surrounds it.

But who can blame us? It’s just easier to think pessimistically. It comes more naturally than thinking optimistically.

And that’s the problem when it comes to those who experience anxiety or overthinking. It all comes down to your perception of what’s happening, not necessarily what’s happening itself.

As always, I’ve got a pretty good story to give you a better idea of what I’m talking about.

It’s actually an old traditional Indian folktale so you know it’s good.

Outside of a palace long ago, a king was out hunting when he had accidentally cut off his finger while skinning an animal. Enraged and in pain, he returned to his palace where he ran into his minister who told him, “Everything happens for a reason, your Majesty.”

The king, already upset, became furious at his remark and had his minister thrown in prison.

A few days later, the king went hunting again but was captured by a tribe that was known to practice human sacrifice. Just as they were about to offer him to their Gods, they noticed his missing finger and decided he was unfit for sacrifice. And so, they let him go.

Returning to the palace, the king went to his minister to apologize and share his story about how his injury saved his life.

“But why did you have to suffer in prison?” said the king.

The minister replied, “If I hadn’t been imprisoned, I would have been with you and sacrificed in your place.”

The moral of the story is that our suffering comes from how we interpret situations. In this case, the king interpreted cutting off his finger as bad, rather than taking the time to think about the good that could possibly come from it.

I’m not saying everything you’ll experience is going to be good, but you can definitely take the time to stop perceiving it as entirely bad.

It’s your choice to define how you see reality.

So stop thinking about what all could be wrong about what’s in front of you, and start thinking about what all could go right.

Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I’m Currently Reading - I’m now reading Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen. A book on how to stop overthinking and end internal suffering.

Quote Of The Week - “The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.” — Stephen McCranie