Home Mindful Living How heavy is this glass of water? #WednesdayWisdom

How heavy is this glass of water? #WednesdayWisdom

by Vidya Sury January 10, 2018 22 comments
How heavy is this glass of water #lifelessons #inspiring #wednesdaywisdom

A psychologist, who taught stress management, walked around the room.

As the class watched, she picked up a glass of water and raised it.

Everyone assumed she would ask them whether the glass was half empty or half full.

But she surprised them by smiling and asking:

“How heavy is this glass of water?”

Everyone took a shot at guessing and came up with a range of answers.

She then said,

“The absolute weight is of no consequence. What matters is how long I hold it.

Holding it for a minute is no problem.

When I hold it for an hour, my arm begins to ache.

If I hold it for a day, my arm will go numb and feel paralyzed.

So, the actual weight of the water remains constant but depending on how long I hold it, my perception of its weight changes. The longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

As the class listened, she continued:

“Life’s worries and stresses are like this glass of water. You mull over them for a while, and nothing happens.

You hang on to them a little longer, and you feel the hurt.

Think of them all day long, and they’ll paralyze you to the point that you’re unable to do anything.

So, remember that it is important to let go of your stress. By early evening, release your burdens. Don’t carry them with you into the evening and into the night.

Put that glass down!”

When you let go, joy, happiness and freedom wait to embrace you.

And by the way, I figure the principle is the same for a glass of beer, wine, coffee, milk…burdens come in different shapes, sizes and colors, eh?

Go, fill your cup.

How heavy is this glass of water? The longer you hold it, the heavier it becomes. Like life's worries. Let go! #inspiring #mindfulliving #lifelessons

#WednesdayWisdom is a series with short bursts of easy-to-consume wisdom in the form of stories, quotes, anecdotes and humor. 

Share this post ❤
22 comments

You may also like

22 comments

Veidehi Gite January 10, 2018 at 10:21 pm

Starting 2018 on that note 🙂 Letting go of what doesn’t belong and embracing what Universe thinks is best for me 🙂

Reply
Shailaja Vishwanath January 11, 2018 at 8:15 am

I’ve heard this parable before and always loved it :)So true that our burdens are heavier the longer we carry them. Similar to grudges no? Important to let go and be happy doing what we do.

Loved this, Vidya. I am enjoying this series of yours!

Reply
Anamika Agnihotri January 11, 2018 at 9:47 am

Let go is a wonderful wisdom quote. Let go of your worries and let go of the people who want to move away. My own little addition 🙂

Reply
Nabanita Dhar January 11, 2018 at 10:18 am

You know Vidya, last Friday I got my rating at work, Needless to say, I felt cheated. But it didn’t affect me much that day, With each passing day I kept thinking about it and it kept making me angry, resentful. Somehow this post of yours seems to have come at just the right time for me 🙂 So, thank you, Vidya.

Reply
Shilpa Garg January 11, 2018 at 12:03 pm

I have read this story earlier, but is great reminder to let go of worries and anxieties and live happily. A fabulous series, Vidya!! ♥

Reply
Natasha January 11, 2018 at 2:35 pm

What a beautiful thought to hold on to, Vidya.
Will be back for more wisdom. Thank you❤️

Reply
upasna January 11, 2018 at 2:57 pm

Loved it Vidya Ji. Thanks for sharing such inspirational tales every now and then.

Reply
Vinay Kumar Satyanarayan January 11, 2018 at 4:53 pm

Hey, this Is old hat!!!!!!!

Reply
Vidya Sury January 11, 2018 at 5:04 pm

To you, perhaps. But there are many of us who enjoy the reminders. Good parables are worth reading from time to time.
Vidya Sury recently posted…How heavy is this glass of water? #WednesdayWisdom

Reply
Shilpa Gupte January 11, 2018 at 9:02 pm

We so need to be reminded of putting aside this unnecessary burden of stress we carry with us all day long and express gratitude for all that is going right with our life!
Thank you for these pearls of wisdom, Vidya! <3

Reply
Soumya January 12, 2018 at 12:44 pm

Just the thing I had to read today, Vidya! I’m burdened by pain today, but I know the more I hold on to it the more I will get hurt. I’m gonna work twice as hard now to get this burden off me. Thanks for this.

Reply
Vidya Sury January 12, 2018 at 1:05 pm

Hugs, Sowmya! Take a little time off to love yourself. Read a book, cook something you love, spend time with a friend and let it all out.
I am there for you!
Vidya Sury recently posted…Hospital visits, life-lessons and gratitude

Reply
Vidhya January 12, 2018 at 4:35 pm

superb mam…..I have just started working on my job…I need to create my own blog page and share something interesting during my free time…can you give me some tips for it???

Reply
Vidya Sury January 12, 2018 at 4:39 pm

Thank you. Just sign up with blogger dot com or wordpress dot com and start writing!
Vidya Sury recently posted…How heavy is this glass of water? #WednesdayWisdom

Reply
Darla M Sands January 13, 2018 at 10:35 pm

That is awesome! Thank you for sharing.

Reply
Obsessivemom January 15, 2018 at 1:02 pm

I can always always do with this reminder. Half the time I don’t raven realise the weight I’m lugging around.

Reply
Vidya Sury January 15, 2018 at 6:02 pm

Hugs! Me too!

Reply
Suzie Cheel January 16, 2018 at 1:23 pm

Love this, yes to letting go to bring in more love, joy and happiness xxx

Reply
Cathy Taughinbaugh January 16, 2018 at 11:45 pm

Love this concept, Vidya. and the idea that “The longer you hold it, the heavier it becomes.” Beautiful. I’ll take this message with me in 2018. Thank you!

Reply
Paige Burkes January 20, 2018 at 3:57 am

Thinking about this concept, the song, “Let It Go” from the movie, Frozen, comes to mind. As a mother of young girls, I’ve seen the movie and listened to that song many, many times. And now I find that I sing these lyrics, out loud or to myself, almost every day. There’s always something we need to let go of to live more peacefully.

Reply
Zeenat Merchant Syal January 22, 2018 at 12:08 am

totally love this post Vidya! Such beautiful energy to begin the year on 🙂 Thank you!
xoxo, Z~

Reply
Mark Blaise January 22, 2018 at 4:35 am

Hey Vidya,

A great story and a really effective use of an analogy to reinforce an important life lesson about how to acquire peace of mind and more happiness in life.

Keep ’em coming!

Mark
LiveLoveLaughBeHappy.com

Reply

Leave a Comment

CommentLuv badge