The Importance of How You See It

As an avid reader I often find ancient stories and writings from history that one can turn to for advice. For example, there’s an ancient fable:

There once was an ancient and powerful King. As powerful as he was, he often struggled with emotional highs and lows, and these had cost him heavily during critical moments in battle. The King was prone to periods of great elation where he would make very poor decisions, and periods of great despair where he would get extremely upset.

One of the kingdom’s wise men created a ring for the King, an item that would help stop him from getting lost in his high and low moments.

The King asked, “How does it work?”
“Wear the ring with you always. In times when you need it most, it will show you the answer and you will know what to do.” replied the wise man.

Some days later a horseman rode in and demanded to speak to the King. “Your Majesty! Your Majesty! The kingdom is surrounded. We’re under attack!”
The King and all his best men rode out to meet their enemies in the battlefield. They fought for a long time and it appeared that they would be defeated.

Everything seemed dark and hopeless but just when the exhausted King was about to surrender the ring suddenly shone and caught his attention.
Engraved on the ring was an illuminated message ‐ four words which he had not seen before: “This too shall pass.”
Almost instantly the King found new hope and courage and a burst of energy out of nowhere and fought back with everything he had. His new strength inspired his men to fight like never before, the tide of the battle changed and the King’s army won.

Elated, the King returned to his city and threw a massive celebration for many days. Just when he was losing himself in the midst of a great feast, the ring shone again with an illuminated message which drew his attention.

Once more it said, “This too shall pass.
Those four words startled the King and returned him to his composed self. He came back to his senses, he returned to clear thinking, the best recipe at all times.

It’s interesting to note that when the King read the message, nothing in the world he was in had changed ‐ only his thoughts. Changing thoughts and subsequently the actions that emanate from those thoughts on their own changed his whole experience and the eventual outcome of the battle.

There are situations, and we are in a classic one with the Coronavirus Pandemic at present and the difficulties and pain it is causing for many, that might cause you to be trapped in a negative spiral of thoughts and you may lose heart… but only very temporarily if YOU control it. Recognise that in those moments, you are feeling what comes from your thoughts and THAT is your reality, not the external world. Those negative thoughts will pass, making way for new positive thoughts to pierce through if you let them. Remember, particularly now, “This too shall pass.” The external circumstances may be the same, but if you are now determined to live it differently you will, as a result, create a very different and much better outcome for yourself and those who rely on you.

Recognise the temporary nature of what we are in. Make plans for when we come out of this ‐ rehearse different potential scenarios ‐ three months, six months etc. Have a well thought through plan. Engage you key players in helping you devise it. You will hit the ground running and leave those who compete with you who at present are dwelling on the concerns and negativity well behind.

david.t@tinderboxbusinessdevelopment.co.uk

07747 023610

David Turner

Managing Director