Manage Stress
​Managing stress involves employing strategies and techniques to cope with and reduce the negative effects of stress on your physical and mental well-being.
The Professor and the Glass of Water
One day, a professor walked into a classroom holding a glass of water. The students expected the familiar question, “Is the glass half full or half empty?” But instead, the professor asked, “How heavy do you think this glass of water is?”
The students gave various answers—“100 grams,” “200 grams,” and so on.
The professor smiled and said, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. What matters is how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s no problem. If I hold it for an hour, my arm will start to ache. If I hold it for an entire day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it feels.”
He continued, “Stress is like this glass of water. If you carry it for a short while, it’s manageable. If you carry it all day, it becomes unbearable. The key to managing stress is to put the glass down, take breaks, and rest.”
​
MORAL OF THE STORY
​
Take breaks to manage stress: Don’t carry your burdens indefinitely—let go periodically to recharge.
Stress compounds over time: The longer you hold onto it, the heavier it feels.
The Monk and the Storm
A young monk once traveled to a monastery in the mountains to seek peace and enlightenment. On his first night, a violent storm swept through the valley, with loud thunder and flashes of lightning. The monk was terrified and couldn’t sleep.
The next morning, he told the head monk about his fear. The head monk took him to a window and said, “Look at the trees outside. The small, stiff saplings are bent and broken by the storm, but the tall, flexible bamboo is still standing.”
The head monk explained, “Stress is like a storm—it tests your resilience. If you resist and stiffen yourself, you will break under pressure. But if you remain flexible, like the bamboo, you will bend with the storm and recover when it passes.”
​
MORAL OF THE STORY
​
Resilience comes from flexibility: Adapt to challenges rather than resisting them.
Stress is temporary: Like a storm, it will pass, and you will recover.
The Farmer’s Calm​
One day, a farmer’s horse ran away. His neighbours came to console him, saying, “What bad luck!” The farmer replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
The next day, the horse returned, bringing with it a group of wild horses. The neighbours exclaimed, “What great luck!” The farmer again said, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
Later, the farmer’s son tried to ride one of the wild horses and fell, breaking his leg. The neighbours said, “How unfortunate!” The farmer replied, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
A week later, soldiers came to the village to recruit young men for war. They spared the farmer’s son because of his broken leg. The neighbours said, “How lucky!” The farmer simply said, “Maybe. We’ll see.”
​
MORAL OF THE STORY
Stress often comes from overreacting to events: Life’s outcomes are uncertain, so don’t label them too quickly.
Adopt a calm, neutral perspective: Accept events as they come without unnecessary worry.
The Calm Lake
One evening, a man approached a Zen master and said, “Master, I am overwhelmed by stress. My thoughts are restless, and I can’t focus. Please help me.”
The Zen master took the man to a calm lake and handed him a stick. “Stir the water,” the master said.
The man stirred the water, creating ripples and muddying the bottom of the lake. The master asked, “Now, can you see your reflection in the water?”
“No,” the man replied. “The water is too disturbed.”
The master said, “Wait.” The man stood still, and after a while, the ripples subsided, and the water became clear again.
“Now, look at your reflection,” the master said. The man saw his face clearly in the calm water.
The master explained, “Your mind is like this water. When it is disturbed, you can’t think clearly. But when you let it settle, clarity and calmness return. Don’t react to every stressful thought—let them pass, and peace will come naturally.”
MORAL OF THE STORY
Don’t react immediately to stress: Let your mind settle before making decisions.
Clarity arises from calmness: A still mind can handle stress more effectively.
​
The Donkey in the Well
One day, a farmer’s donkey fell into a dry well. The animal cried loudly, and the farmer felt helpless. He thought about rescuing it but decided the task was too difficult. Instead, he decided to bury the donkey in the well.
The farmer and his neighbors began shoveling dirt into the well. The donkey, realizing what was happening, panicked and cried louder. But then, it did something unexpected—it shook off the dirt and stepped on top of it.
As the dirt kept coming, the donkey kept shaking it off and stepping up. After a while, the donkey climbed out of the well and trotted away happily.
​
​MORAL OF THE STORY
​
Use stress as a stepping stone: Don’t let challenges bury you; rise above them.
Your response to stress matters: Shake off negativity and find ways to move forward.