The Glass of Water

 

The Glass of Water (এক গ্লাস জল)

The Story: A psychology professor walked around on a stage while teaching stress management principles to an auditorium filled with students. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the typical "glass half empty or glass half full" question. Instead, with a smile on her face, the professor asked, "How heavy is this glass of water I'm holding?"

Students shouted out answers ranging from eight ounces to a couple of pounds.

She replied, "From my perspective, the absolute weight of this glass doesn't matter. It all depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s quite light. If I hold it for an hour straight, my arm will begin to ache. If I hold it for a day straight, my arm will feel completely numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it feels to me."

As the class shook their heads in agreement, she continued, "Your stresses and worries in life are very much like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and you begin to ache. Think about them all day long, and you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything."

The Moral of the Story: It’s important to let go of your stresses and never carry your worries through the night and into the next day with you. Remember to "put the glass down" before it becomes too heavy to hold.