The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I dont' know what made me think of this today but a story I'd heard before came to mind and I could identify with it. Maybe someone else will as well.
A martial artist, who had become quite proficient, sought a new master to further his training. He found who he was looking for and asked the master to teach him. The master had him work out briefly and then invited him to sit down to tea. The master put out two tea cups, but when the student looked at his it was filled with water. Not wishing to question the master he watched as the master filled his own cup with tea and then began to pour tea into the student's cup which was already full of water. Of course the tea and water overflowed the cup spilling on the table. The student watched for several seconds until he could contain himself no longer and asked the master to stop. He then questioned why he would do that and master responded. "There was no room for the tea in the cup because it was filled with something else. In order to learn from me you must empty your cup."
This reminds of how my old ways of thinking prevent me from seeing things differently and learning something new or better. I have to rid myself of the old ways of thinking.
I am glad you thought of your the story today. A great point and good example. Yes, I have stored it away for future use and example. Too many times my cup runs over, but it is what I put in my cup that causes the spill.
Oh I really like that theory, my friend said to me once, imagine your head is a box, just put the good stuff in, from time to time have a good clear out, keep it simple, don't over complicate things, I am still a horder though, just really need to practice lot's, when it is time to let things go I no longer need!
