Cracked Pot

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on an end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived half full.

For two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts." the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again the pot apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

_____About the Contributor__________
Marianne Weidlein specializes in business management, consulting and self-employment. She is the author of "Empowering Vision – for Dreamers, Visionaries & Other Entrepreneurs" and can be reached at aimari@earthlink.net

Developing the Inner Environment for Success

Empowering Vision

What makes success? Intelligent self-management. We are ongoing creation, and as we think, we make our lives. Out of our thoughts we make our lives. Out of our thoughts we unfold our lives, know it or not, like it or not, with success the reward of intelligent self-management.

How do you intelligently manage yourself? Know yourself. If you don't really know yourself-what you want, what matters, your limits and boundaries, choose to do so now. Knowing ourselves is challenging.

We haven't been supported to do so. Rather, we've been taught what to think, what not to think, and especially not how to think for ourselves.

Therefore, we are dysfunctional. We don't respect. We destroy and pretend we aren't, think we're getting away with something, and wonder why we're anxious. Together we create this bizarre even scary world that we must understand and accept as it is to live in it successfully.

The key is to manage yourself. In your relationships, you are ongoing creation. Therefore, understand and manage the creative power of your mind-perception thought and feeling-with the content and quality of your life. Listen to yourself thinking. Hear the quality of your thoughts and the works you use. Feel what these do to you and see how you create your life. This isn't "airy-fairy." It's not woo-woo. It's true.

Understand the power of thought and you're free to create the life you want. Accept what you can't change, and change what you can't accept, as Alcoholics Anonymous, teaches, and be empowered. It's that simple. Be clear, steadfast and patient. This isn't especially spiritual, It's simply good sense for everyone who wants a more fulfilling life.

Self-management is key

Know how to organize and plan. Manage the flow of your intention into activities that make sense and unfold a rewarding and fun life. If you don't know how, learn and do it; or you'll never feel the fulfillment you want.

Go within yourself to determine what is true for you. Think only what is true. Speak only what is true. Back up what you say. Do only what is true. If you resist or feel afraid, get quiet and go within, get right with yourself, and make the appropriate adjustments. You'll know what to do. The answers are within you, and only you know what is right for you. Your are constantly choosing your life, know it or not, like it or not. So it makes good sense to choose only what you feel secure with.

Manage your mind. Understand the creative power of beliefs and thoughts, especially limited ones charged with emotion. Be certain that what guides you also upholds you.

Manage your thoughts. Think only what is true and choose accordingly. Don't indulge in futile, limited, fearful or blaming thoughts. Manage your life by managing your mind. Think only about what you want. Figure out how to get it and think, choose and feel your way to success.

Monitor your thoughts, allowing only accurate, supportive ones. Reject all limiting thoughts. Respect yourself in all you do. Guide your life with clarity and wisdom, understand the basics of success, and vitalize your life with power.

Every system must be carefully organized to provide a strong, reliable base for expansion. Therefore, sequence all your activities wisely, and process details efficiently and on time. Understand how to gain the most, utilizing the least amount of precious time, energy and money. I'm not advocating getting something for nothing, but intelligent self-management. Maintain accurate records, manage your finances, and pay all taxes on time.

In one simple question, define success, then get quiet, close your eyes; visualize how you really want to live, and what you want to change. Be clear and respect yourself in all you do.

Envision what you want. Be specific, set realistic goals, devise a plan, and stay with it until you succeed. Olympic winners do.

Focus on success. Go for what you want. Get support, go for it and give it all you have. Give yourself success. Give yourself nothing less.

Our human population has reached the size, at which the sum of individual dysfunction is powerful enough to create an unprecedented imbalance, imposing consequences we don't like. We can't stop change, nor does it make sense to even try. But we can change the future we're heading for now by changing ourselves and what does not serve, everyday.

Manage your life. Assume that everything has happened to develop you and build your strength. Understand your world.

Assume life is intelligent, and see the value in everything.

How you live is your choice. Whenever you are unhappy with something, change it. Change what doesn't work.

Don't demand others to change, and resist changing yourself. If you expect me to change, without changing, and I am doing the same, no one changes. We're both unhappy and life is bleak. But as more of us consciously create our lives the world will become a better place. A safer place.

To assure change, align with others and exchange support. Create a core team of mutually caring and respectful people who gladly communicate through confusion to clarity. Meet, get real, share your dreams, listen to each other and help each other succeed. Get good at being open with others, and at giving and receiving support to each other and help each other succeed.

Develop a larger community for exchanging support. There is strength in numbers. Share your visions and goals, determine how to support each other, and how to hold each other accountable. Enjoy. Live the life you feel in your heart. Focus on what you want, allow no negative voice to reign, and give yourself ultimate security for a fulfilled life.

Do you have anything better to do?

© 1997, Marianne Weildlein