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The black dot

A small town chamber of commerce invited a speaker to address its annual dinner. The community’s economy was bad, people were discouraged, and they wanted this motivational speaker to give them a boost.

During her presentation, the speaker took a large piece of white paper and made a small black dot at the center with a marking pen. Then she held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw.

One person quickly replied, “I see a black dot.”

“Okay, what else do you see?”

Others joined in agreement: “A black dot.”

“Don’t you see anything besides the dot?” – she asked.

A resounding “No” came from the audience.

“What about the sheet of paper?” – asked the speaker. “I am sure you have all seen it”, she said, “But you have chosen to overlook it.”

“In life, we also tend to overlook and take for granted many wonderful things that we have or happen around us and focus our attention and energy on small, dotlike failures and disappointments. The so called ‘problems’ that we have are usually like the black dot on the paper. They are small and insignificant if we can widen our horizon and look at the whole picture.”

Are you one of the person who focus your attention and energy on dot-like problems?

Author Unknown

{ 26 comments… add one }
  • Jody August 16, 2017, 10:20 pm

    This is a wonderfully simple story that has so many applications in real life. Thank you for sharing this. I’ll share it & give credit

  • Edet October 1, 2014, 2:58 pm

    Thank you for inspiring me

  • Joseph k S March 2, 2014, 1:16 pm

    Very good stories with amazing inspirations. Thank you.

  • Easterine Makang February 15, 2014, 11:50 pm

    Amazing stories…Love it!!! Thank you.

  • Zahida khan February 15, 2014, 3:01 pm

    It’s a great motivation for students….it’ an inspiring story…. Love this one!!!!

  • Zungusnoh April 30, 2013, 9:29 am

    Very nice story.

  • Genevieve November 9, 2012, 10:59 am

    All stories here are really amazing..

    Very inspiring. Every time I am pressured, stressed, I just read some stories here and it makes me feel good. Thanks to all contributors!

  • Yetunde October 19, 2012, 4:28 pm

    All the stories here have been a source of inspiration to my life. Whenever I’m down and feel the world is crumbling on me I will just open the page and started reading and I share with my friends on facebook too. It has help me keep going.

    Vetunde
    Nigeria

  • Shilpa September 30, 2012, 2:11 pm

    I’ve read many inspirational stories here, they are very motivating, gave me a lot of confidence…

    Good job!!!!

  • Sai Shreya September 20, 2012, 5:46 am

    Superb, it’s that which is exactly happening.

  • Dr.Dania david September 16, 2012, 7:05 am

    Excellent story.. Inspiring.

  • Romit Roy September 3, 2012, 11:00 am

    Good one, I like it.

  • Dors August 30, 2012, 9:26 pm

    Hi,

    I share most of your stories here in our company Prayer Meetings. It helps to uplift the spirit. Thank you and God bless.

  • Sohamjit August 26, 2012, 12:29 pm

    But at times a dot leaves an everlasting mark of shock and sorrow that affects the very existence. A dot on a white paper may mean a dark episode that tarnishes the image of a good person. None the less, the story is good from H.R prespective.

  • NARENDER August 23, 2012, 4:49 am

    Great way of motivation to students.

  • Warui Maina August 14, 2012, 9:55 am

    This is a sweet story, thumbs up!!!

  • Gailikngam August 13, 2012, 10:51 am

    I am teaching at sunday school. The stories are very helpful.

  • Doenee August 6, 2012, 6:46 pm

    Inspirational piece!

  • Maremi Tersoo August 5, 2012, 6:07 am

    Nice one here too! Kindly permit me to be using your stories for my workplace article. Thank you.

    • Stephen August 5, 2012, 11:23 pm

      Hi Maremi!

      Please feel free to use the stories. Take care!

  • Edward Riva August 2, 2012, 8:57 pm

    Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praise worthy — think about such things. Phil 4:8

  • Princehc July 25, 2012, 12:24 pm

    Great site indeed, i like it!!!!

  • Dandy July 24, 2012, 12:48 pm

    Very nice.. always find ways…

  • Margaret July 23, 2012, 11:21 am

    Your short stories published here are interesting. I am using them for the value education for the high school students.

    I see there are many more stories…. .which I will use converting into sessions. Later on after some years I may publish my sessions for the students. I would like to get due permission from you. I am a catholic nun engaged in teaching ministry.

    • Stephen July 23, 2012, 11:37 am

      Hi Margaret!

      Please feel free to use the content here in anyway you see fit. Credit is warmly appreciated but not required. Best wishes.

  • Mosopefoluwa July 23, 2012, 8:08 am

    Focusing on the immaterial could make one loose the real thing. Avoid unnecessaries

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