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| Positive Thinking - Where there is a Will, There is a Way! |
There are times when we feel that we are in a blind alley and there is no way out! We do not feel that there is even the slightest sliver of light at the end of the tunnel! These are difficult times and probably quite depressing times too! It is easy during such a period to lose hope and simply give up! However, as long as we keep hope alive and keep thinking positive, there is always the possibility that things will look up... perhaps, our sad times might be bottoming out! Even if not, the power of positive thinking and optimism is such that it has a calming and tranquil effect on both mind and body!
Here is one short story that makes an interesting point that Where there is a Will, There is a Way!
Long ago in China, there lived a big businessman whose business was to sell combs. He had been in the business for a very long time and was getting old. He felt the need to retire, relax and take interest in his own life and pursuits, other than business. However, before he did that, he wanted to be sure that he was passing on his business into wise and capable hands. This businessman had 3 sons who were grown up and had been assisting their father in the business. So he called forth his three sons and instructed them on an assignment to prove their capabilities. This assignment at first glance appeared to be a non-starter and close to impossible. He asked them to sell combs in the Buddhist monastery.
His sons were thunderstruck and utterly confused. They wondered how anyone can sell combs in a monastery where the monks shaved their heads and were bald. They never grew hair. Yet, they were always respectful of their father and thought he must have good reasons for giving them this assignment howsoever it may look weird or awkward. So, they accepted the assignment rather than gently rejecting it at the beginning itself. They ventured forth on the assignment to sell combs in the Buddhist monastery.
Two days passed - the first son returned and reported to his father. With great difficulty and applying his skills, he had managed to sell 2 combs. The father wanted to understand his methodology. So he asked how he did that. The son replied that he had advised the monks that it would be a valuable tool for scratching their backs in case of itching. After all, we are all human and even monks have to scratch the itch. So, the sales skill of the first son worked though he could sell only 2 combs.
Another few days passed. The second son came back. He had done better than his brother. He told his father that he had sold 10 combs with great ingenuity the Buddhist monks in the monastery. As usual, the father wanted to know how he had done that. So, the second son explained that he had advised the monks that the combs would be of great help to their visitors and pilgrims to comb their hair before entering their monastery, as their hair might have been ruffled during the windy journey to the monastery. It was a plausible and well done sales pitch and the second son has succeeded too like the first son when the assignment originally looked impossible.
Finally, the third son returned after a few more days passing by. He gave a stunning piece of news to his father. It was almost unbelievable even to the old man. The third son had sold a 1000 combs to the Buddhist monks in the monastery! The father was brimming with happiness - yet, he was anxious to know how he had managed such a wonderful extraordinary feat. The third son replied that he had given an idea to the monks - one that was fully appreciated by them. He had told them if some key teachings of Buddha were to be either embossed or printed on the combs, they could be given away to the pilgrims as a take-away gift. The visitors would use the combs on a daily basis - in the process, they would recollect Buddha's teachings regularly time and again. Not only that, they would share the wisdom with their family, friends and acquaintances too. The monks would also achieve their purpose of spreading the teachings of Buddha in a surprisingly innocuous way without needing to drill them into the minds of pilgrims. This creative idea struck the deal for the third son with the monks and resulted in selling 1000 combs.
While all 3 sons had converted an assignment that did not look possible initially, yet it was the third son who had exceeded all expectations with the power of positive thinking and attitude! In a nutshell, the story metaphorically conveys to us that "Where there is a Will, there is a Way!"
➤ Life Lesson: It may look like there is no light at the end of the tunnel but it always pays to practice positive thinking and attitude - Where there is a Will, there is a Way! If you give up hope, then you are shutting the doors to possible opportunities that could help and elevate you!
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