I ask all my student to fill out a feedback form. The form asks them what message they took from the workshop/presentation/activity. I have received over 20,000 feedback forms with amazing things kids write. More often than not, they write, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”.
In my workshops, the opportunity often presents itself to discuss our own self-judgment. I bring up the fact that it can be damaging to consider ourselves inferior based on what we look like on the outside. To illustrate my point, I share the water story. It is a great way to understand what is important in life and why what we have inside is much more important than the outside.
Water
The professor just smiled and went to the kitchen, returning with an assortment of cups – some made of porcelain, some made of plastic, some made of glass, some plain-looking and some looking expensive and exquisite.
The professor laid the cups and a jug of water on the table and gestured to his former students to help themselves.
When all the students had a cup with water in their hands, the professor said:
“Your life is like the water, while your job, your money and your position in society are like the cups. They are just tools to support your life, but they do not determine the quality of your life.”
“If you concentrate too much on the cup, you won’t have time to enjoy the water in it.”
Be Happy!
Ronit
