Usually I write about tips for a more peaceful life and tell you little tricks you can try and new tools to implement, and I hope they are very helpful to you. Today I’m going to share something with you that is a little different.
Instead of telling you new things you can do, here is a secret. A very important tool for a more peaceful life is learning what you should not do. Those lessons, however, can be difficult. One of the best ways to learn what you should not do is to learn from the mistakes of others.
Today I am going to share a little story I heard recently from a friend. It was probably originally a childrens’ story, but it really resonated with me. I’ll try to capture it as closely as I can, but you will hopefully get the message just the same.
People that know me well, know I love bubbles. Even at the mature age of sixty-five it would not be unusual to see me sitting on my front porch on a nice day blowing soap bubbles. Maybe that is why I thought this story was so valuable. I hope you enjoy it and learn from it as well.
Suzie’s Bubbles – a Fable for a More Peaceful Life
Fiona was a bubble waiting to be unleashed. As she waited, she made great plans for her journey soon to come. She wanted to be free, to float over the beautiful hills, see the lake shore, and feel the gentle breeze. It was going to be such a great adventure once she was out of the bottle. Could she make her dreams come true?
Day after day, Fiona sat in the soapy water, watching Suzie, the little girl who owned the bottle she called home, blow her friends into other bubbles so they could take flight and begin their journey to freedom.
Fiona always dreamed about being the next bubble to be blown. Yet, she spent her days watching what the other bubbles did as Suzie released them. There were some bubbles that made bad choices, and popped as soon as they were blown and released. Fiona certainly did not want that to happen to her – after all, she had plans to float as far as she could go.
“Oh no! Look at Elena floating towards the mulberry tree,” Fiona exclaimed. “She knows that mulberries have a prickly exterior. She’s going to be in trouble soon!”
And just as Fiona said, it was done. As soon as Elena got next to a purple mulberry, she popped loudly and transformed into thousands of water droplets. The droplets landed in the lake below. Elena was upset that she lost her floating ability and, instead, had to flow along in the lake, depending on the current to take her where she would go. Fiona wasn’t about to that happen to her. She had bigger plans.
Fiona kept reminding herself of her goal to float for as long as possible. Watching, reminding, and waiting.
The next day Fiona was sure it was her turn to be blown into a bubble. As Suzie opened the bottle and took out the bubble wand, Fiona geared up for her grand adventure.
Suzie gently blew into the wand with a long, strong breath and formed Fiona into one of the most beautiful bubbles ever formed.“Wow! How beautiful,” said Suzie. “I hope that bubble lasts a long time.”
Fiona was ready to go! She remembered all the other bubbles. Fiona remembered Elena’s decision to float by the mulberry tree. She remembered what happened to Elena, and decided against taking that same route.
Instead, she floated along the beautiful banks, over the areas where there weren’t many trees. That way, she was able to stay intact for a very long time. She was happy for the opportunity to see many places along her journey. It was more beautiful than she could have ever imagined.
What’s to Moral of this Story?
Learn from the examples set by others to make wise decisions that contribute to your success. Focus on your goals and learn what others have had to learn the hard way.
How to Use this Fable
The Floating Bubble Self-Reflection
Fiona spent many of her days observing the decisions of others around her. Some decisions produced favorable results, while others had the opposite outcome. It was important to Fiona to pay attention so she could carve out a map for her own life.
As someone who has seen others go before you, you have their experiences to guide you. You know what worked for them, and more importantly, you know what didn’t work. You’ve learned from their mistakes and don’t have to make them yourself. Their experiences, if you use them as helpful lessons, can help shape you into the person you are becoming.
The direction of your life is formed by a combination of your beliefs and the lessons learned.
Objective evidence you can see through lessons learned is important. It’s usually not a very good idea to rely only on what you believe. Paying attention to the experiences of others can help you make informed decisions. If your goal is to make the most of the life you’ve been given, get as many life lessons as you can. Self help books are a great resource, coaching is invaluable when you have a good coach, but life lessons are one of the most valuable tools you can have for a successful, more peaceful life.
The observations you make can also help you to determine what is most important to you. Turn the mistakes of others into success stories of your own.
Make each day of life count. Learn from the experiences of others so you can use every opportunity to make wise decisions that support your dreams and goals. Take a moment to ponder the questions below.
Self-Reflection Questions:
- Do I allow my own stubbornness to cloud my judgment?
- Am I focused on long-term happiness when I make decisions?
- How can I help others to get the most out of life?
Find your purpose – find your joy!
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Did you find a few more ideas of your own? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments, and as always please reach out with your thoughts.
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