For many reasons,
fear should be re-named
“inter-fear” – because it is
constantly interfering with
your getting what you want
in life.
DOPE ON A ROPE
There once was this criminal
who had committed a crime.
(Because, hey, that’s what
criminals do. That’s their
job!) Anyway, he was sent to
the king for his punishment.
The king told him he had a
choice of two punishments.
He could be hung by a rope
or take what’s behind the
big, dark, scary, iron door.
The criminal quickly decided
on the rope. As the noose
was being slipped on him, he
turned to the king and
asked. “By the way, out of
curiosity, what’s behind that
door?” The king laughed
and said: “You know, it’s
funny, I offer everyone the
same choice, and nearly
everyone picks the rope.”
“So,” said the criminal,
“Tell me. What’s behind the
door? I mean, obviously, I
won’t tell anyone,” he said,
pointing to the noose around
his neck. The king paused
then answered, “Freedom,
but it seems most people are
so afraid of the unknown
that they immediately take
the rope.”
I love the message in this
story. It’s a powerful
reminder about how so many
of us cling to the familiar.
Yes, unfortunately, too many
of us live our lives choosing
the familiarity of our rope
(aka: familiar pain, familiar
struggle, familiar patterns),
fearful of going for the
unknown alternative –
which can lead to freedom
and ultimate happiness.
Alan Watts, said it well when
he said:“Our lives are one
long effort to resist the
unknown.”
The result? We’re a planet
full of folks walking around