A friend and colleague recently shared a parable she uses in her psychotherapy practice.  I pass it on for your enjoyment.

The River and the Lion

       After the great rains, the lion was faced with crossing the river that encircled him.  Swimming was not in his nature, but it was either cross or die.  The lion roared and charged the river, almost drowning before he retreated.  Many times he attacked the water, and each time he failed to cross.

       Exhausted, the lion lay down.  In his quietness, he heard the river say, "Never fight what isn't here."

       Cautiously, the lion looked up and asked, "What isn't here?"

       "Your enemy isn't here," answered the river.  "Just as you are a lion, I am merely a river."

       Now the lion sat very still and studied the ways of the river.  He watched and listened.  After a while, he walked to where a certain current brushed against the shore.  Stepping in, he floated to the other side.

Author unknown.

Ego

Compares

Critiques

Controls

Battles

Belittles

Blusters

Anguished

Angry

Alone.

Awful

Or

Awesome

Gotta

Be

Special.

Youngster

Yearns

Yes -

Acceptance

Admiration

Affirmation

Belonging

Believing

Befriending

Comfort

Compassion

Companionship.

Embrace

Young

Ego.

Accept.

Befriend.

Companion.

Be nice.

Be with.

Be love.

Own and Choose

We grow

and

Resist growth.

We see deeply, wisely,

and

We cover our eyes.

We give generously

and

Withhold stingily.

We can be merciless in judgment

and

Mercifully forgiving.

Complex

and

Simple,

Goofy

and

Grand,

We can own it all

and

Choose what to feed.

A New Year's Thought

       Just tidying my office a few minutes ago, I opened Brian Browne Walker's translation of  Tao Te Ching, and this one caught my eye.  It seems appropriate for the season.  Enjoy!

Act by not acting,

        accomplish by not straining,

                understand by not knowing.

Regard the humble as exalted

        and the exalted as humble.

Remedy injury with tranquil repair.

Meet the difficult while it is still easy;

        cross the universe one step at a time.

Because the sage doesn't try anything too big,

        she's able to accomplish big things.

Those who commit lightly seldom come through.

Those who think everything is easy

        will find everything hard.

The sage understands that everything is difficult,

        and thus in the end has no difficulties.