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The Weight of the Glass

Once upon a time a psychology professor walked around on a stage while teaching stress management principles to an auditorium filled with students.

As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the typical “glass half empty or glass half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, the professor asked, “How heavy is this glass of water I’m holding?”

Students shouted out answers ranging from eight ounces to a couple pounds.

She replied, “From my perspective, the absolute weight of this glass doesn’t matter. It all depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute or two, it’s fairly light. If I hold it for an hour straight, its weight might make my arm ache a little. If I hold it for a day straight, my arm will likely cramp up and feel completely numb and paralyzed, forcing me to drop the glass to the floor. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it feels to me.”

As the class shook their heads in agreement, she continued, “Your stresses and worries in life are very much like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and you begin to ache a little. Think about them all day long, and you will feel completely numb and paralyzed – incapable of doing anything else until you drop them.”

The moral: It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses and worries. No matter what happens during the day, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the night and into the next day with you. If you still feel the weight of yesterday’s stress, it’s a strong sign that it’s time to put the glass down.

{ 23 comments… add one }
  • kiran juryani March 17, 2023, 8:06 am

    Beautiful way to tell that how to destress

  • R vedanayaki March 17, 2023, 12:43 am

    This is very true and so profound

  • Mathew mwangi February 28, 2023, 8:46 am

    So inspiring

  • Bud Atkinson July 10, 2021, 6:15 am

    If you accept stories from here I would like for you to consider an American Veteran who landed at Normandy, Howard Day. I wrote the poem a few days ago.
    Howard Day
    I’d like to tell you if I may
    About a man named Howard Day
    And he is crippled now, you see
    It happened, there at Normandy
    The tide turned red that fateful day
    As one by one men passed away
    And yet he lived, he knew not how
    But Howard Day is crippled now
    The price he paid that day was steep
    Yet freedom never has been cheap
    And from his life I hope you see
    That freedom never has been free
    And countless folks like Howard Day
    Have felt the call the price to pay
    To go and fight the enemy
    That folks at home may still be free
    And he became a friend of mine
    Though in a chair he spent his time
    I thank my God He made a way:
    I met a hero, Howard Day.
    By Bud Atkinson

  • Anu Bhardwaj June 15, 2021, 3:22 am

    Very Nice.

  • Lz June 9, 2021, 11:38 pm

    Sick, this story does make sense

  • Neha June 18, 2019, 9:34 am

    It’s an amazing story. Looking forward to reading your new stories. Thanku

  • wanjala March 7, 2019, 12:59 pm

    Fantastic

    • wanjala calory March 7, 2019, 1:02 pm

      excellent work.keep up

  • Pradeep January 13, 2019, 12:31 pm

    Superb and really inspirational..

  • Pradeep January 13, 2019, 12:24 pm

    Wonderful

  • Frans December 4, 2018, 11:56 am

    Awesome ?

  • Keletso December 4, 2018, 11:55 am

    Great stuff – will remember you put the glass down

  • Joseph Jacob November 23, 2018, 7:42 am

    good one Stephen. keep up the good work

  • samundeeswari November 22, 2018, 4:01 am

    Nice and needed message. Thank U

  • VALENTINAH WUGHANGA MGHANGA November 19, 2018, 8:02 am

    uplifting

  • Esther November 19, 2018, 3:27 am

    Great

  • Esther November 19, 2018, 3:26 am

    Awesome…

  • Jose November 19, 2018, 1:10 am

    Very old one. We expect innovative ideas from a great Leader and writer like you. Please continue your good work.

  • Sunil November 18, 2018, 11:12 pm

    Excellent analogy. Beautiful message. Keep up the good work.

  • Harmesh Lal November 18, 2018, 8:57 pm

    Very nice

  • mai November 18, 2018, 6:29 pm

    Thank you Stephen! Very nice story. Looking forward to reading your stories. Wish you all the best!

  • Arwind November 18, 2018, 4:18 pm

    Nice one!

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