3 Ancient Parables I Told My Kids to Make Adulting Easier |
Ancient tales contain psychological wisdom still applicable in the modern world.
The parable of two arrows teaches that our thoughts affect the healing process.
The story of the Chinese farmer cautions against labeling events as good or bad.
The fisherman’s tale reminds us to stay focused on what really matters.
When my kids finished high school, they knew how to solve an algebraic equation. They knew the order of the planets. They knew a few phrases of a foreign language.
They didn’t know how to deal with anxiety. How to cope with life’s curveballs. How to live well.
The most important life lessons fall to parents—parents who probably never learned these lessons themselves. This vicious cycle of ignorance creates entire generations living an overly stressful life filled with regret rather than joy.
While trying to fill this knowledge gap, I found three parables that can help guide people of any age towards the good life. Sharing this wisdom with our children before they go out into the world will help them build resilience, stay focused on what truly matters, and succeed in the most meaningful way.
The Parable of Two Arrows
You and a friend are walking through the forest, hunting with bows and arrows. Suddenly, a stray arrow from another, unseen hunter grazes your leg. It hurts, but it’s just a flesh wound. Your friend panics and launches into a colorful tirade of dismay and anger. He shouts insults into the trees and vows to get revenge.
You calm him down and explain, “I’ve already been hit by one arrow. I’m not going to thrust a second one into the wound.”
Drawn from Buddhist teachings, this story gently drops a truth bomb that we are often responsible for worsening our misfortunes. The first arrow represents the unpleasant things life inevitably hurls our way. The second arrow represents our typical response, which deepens and prolongs the suffering we’re already endured.
The empowering lesson here is that while we cannot control the first arrow, we can control the second one.
Life constantly flings arrows at you—some big, some........