A Bell for
Compassion

Story 01

A cup of water

If I hold a cup of clean, clear water in my hand and look at it, there are lessons to observe. Is the cup half full or half empty? Is there enough room for more water, the same way I need enough room in my thinking for new ideas? Is the water cloudy or clear — is my mind cloudy or clear?

Here's an observation about stress, using that same cup of water. If I hold it for five or ten minutes, no problem. If I hold it for ten hours, I might grow tired and drop it. If I hold it for a week or a month, I'll collapse long before the time is up.

The same is true of my stresses and concerns — I have to set aside the mental things I carry before I can move on. These things may come from work, school, children, parents, a spouse, or anything else we all recognize in ourselves. If I don't set them down, I'll carry them with me, constantly distracted, unable to give 100% of my attention to any project or activity. The longer I carry the burden, the heavier it becomes. The sooner I set it aside, the less it troubles my thinking.

This is stress. This is anxiety. This is depression. It is the opposite of mindful behavior.