The Glass of Water

I came across this really great story a few weeks ago.  I do not know the original source, as I think it is one of those things that gets passed around in many different forms.  But if you do know where it came from please let me know and I will gladly credit it.

This is a really great story for how important it is not to hold on to things.  Stress, anger, negativity, and worry all weigh and become a lot of extra "weight" to carry around.

"A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.” She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.” Remember to put the glass down."

Think about what you are holding onto now and tell yourself to "put the glass down."