A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.
It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed an egg, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.
She let them boil without saying a word. Then she brought out the carrots and placed them in a bowl, pulled out the egg and put it in a bowl and then ladled the coffee and placed it in another bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, “tell me, what do you see?
Carrots, eggs, and coffee”, the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then felt the eggs and observed that had become hard boiled eggs. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, “What does it mean mother?”
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity-boiling water but each reacted differently. The carrot went in hard, strong and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.
A bad relationship or difficult financial situation leaves you feeling depressed and wanting to give up.
The egg had been fragile, but after sitting in the boiling water, it’s inside became hardened. Because of the adversity one becomes passive. One is ready to adjust or compromise and loses interest in changing the reality.
The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water i e. creating value from a negative situation.
Which are you?” the mother asked her daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?” Think of this: Which am l? Am I the carrot which seems strong but, with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? After a breakup or financial hardship do l become bitter and tough inside with a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean ? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean ?
Soul Work is the ultimate path to experience a life of unlimited happiness and expansion. Just the way we work on our physical body to keep it maintain its hygiene, increase its immunity and keep it healthy, we need to consciously work on my mental and emotional well-being. Regular practices like Mindfulness, Meditation, Emotional Freedom Technique, and taking support from a Life Coach, Healer, Therapist can help in keeping our Mind, Body and Spirit balanced and aligned.
By Radhika Rai
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