Jessica was a young oak tree growing in the vast forest. She looked forward to the day when she would grow as big as the mighty oaks that towered above him. But then she realized that her chances for survival were slim, at best. What could she do?
Jessica Oak enjoyed spending her days dancing and swaying in the wind. She loved having outstretched branches that jumped up and down with joy and excitement.
But then one day she had a scary thought: “I just don’t get it,” Jessica said to himself. “How am I supposed to grow any bigger if these big guys around me soak up all the sunlight and catch all the raindrops on their leaves?”
Jessica knew that to grow successfully, she would need the perfect combination of sun and water. With the forest being so thickly covered by mature trees, how would she ever survive and grow?
But instead of becoming frustrated, Jessica said to herself, “You know, I just have to trust that I naturally have what it takes to make normal growth possible. Other oaks before me started out right where I am today and they’re mature trees now.”
Jessica trusted her instincts and believed in his ability as an oak tree to keep growing even when the circumstances seemed unfavorable. In no time, she started to see her branches and trunk extend and expand beautifully.
“I knew it! I knew that this day would come eventually,” she exclaimed.
From that moment on, Jessica decided to always think positively, and good things would happen.
Moral of the story: Choosing to be optimistic opens up a world of possibilities.
A commentary on the fable – thoughts to engage in greater optimism
Jessica was enjoying her life as a young oak tree, but she momentarily allowed negative thoughts about hindered growth to enter her mind. Those thoughts popped up as a result of her not readily seeing the solution to the concern she had about growing bigger.
That’s a reality that has probably hit you at some point in your life. You look at your circumstances, contemplate where you want to go, and then start to question your ability to get there. That kind of thinking is counter-productive and creates more doubt in your mind.
Answers to any questions you have, become immediately apparent the moment you start to believe that they exist. The negative can’t do attitude becomes a reality and a positive outcome seems far from being achievable.
When you spend time doubting the existence of a path to progress, the pathways become narrow and almost invisible. Your mindset determines the roads that open up in front of you.
Like Jessica, it’s important to have confidence in your inherent abilities and natural talents. Those things are the source of your power and ability to progress in life.
When you rely on them to dictate your possibilities, those possibilities become realities.
Take whatever time you require to clear your mind of negative thinking.
Use your quiet moments to affirm confidence in your talents and gifts.
Once you achieve that acceptance that you are capable and enough, expect to see answers raining down from the heavens. The future is as bright as you believe it to be.
Self-Reflection Questions
- What are some of the differences I notice in my demeanor when I choose to think with optimism?
- What are the most reliable sources for finding solutions to move forward?
- How effective is meditation at helping me to change my mindset?