What Container Is holding Your Life Experiences?

Life is bristling with thorns, and I know no other remedy
than to cultivate one’s garden.
Voltaire

When we experience something in our lives that we prefer would not happen, we often feel sad, helpless, even angry at life. This week, I learned a new way of looking at these experiences.

In her article, “Stop Being a Glass - Become a Lake,” Carrie Newcomer wrote about a lesson that she learned when her friend Gary Walters recounted an old story that he had heard.

A young apprentice went to his master and asked for help to deal with his deep sadness. The master told the apprentice to put a handful of salt in a glass of water, then drink it. The apprentice followed the instructions, then told the master that it tasted terrible – way too salty.

Then, the master walked with him to a nearby lake and told him to put a handful of salt in the lake. When the apprentice took a glass of water from the lake, it had no salt flavor.

The master took the hands of the apprentice and said to him, “The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same. But the amount we taste depends on the container we put it into.”

Carrie said that the story was helpful for her. “My life may have its struggles, but there is still the light on the water, time working in the garden, walking with my dogs, chatting with my daughter. There is music and laughter, potlucks and fresh blackberries. There is poetry and birdsong, kindness, courage and decency.”

This story spoke clearly to me, as well. Larry and I have talked a lot about what we fill our minds and hearts with every day. By expanding the size of our lake of feelings, beliefs and experiences, we provide a container for any pain or frustration that will hold them in waters of gratitude, love and the joy in being alive on Planet Earth at this moment.

Of course, we will sometimes have experiences that we wish we did not. Their impact on our lives will be largely determined by the mental company that they keep - the quality and frequency of our thoughts about them.

When we dwell on something unpleasant or painful, we add more power to that experience. When we notice things around us that enrich our lives or think about people we care about, we call in the power of love and gratitude. We are always adding to the size and content of our lake.

We all get to choose our container. Is it a container of frustration, annoyance and helplessness or a container of gratitude, optimism and joy? Whatever container we choose determines the quality of our experiences. Our life develops within the energy of the container that we carry within us.

As Carrie said, when the world has poured salt in her hand, “I can expand my sense of things, engage in life-giving activities and heart opening contemplation. I can hold unease or outrage in tension with love and grace, simultaneously and creatively.”

So can we. Let’s “Stop being a glass. Become a lake.”

We are grateful to Carrie and Gary for this uplifting story.

We wish you joy on your journey, even through the hard times.

     Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Click here to read Carrie Newcomer’s article.

What are your thoughts? Do these ideas speak to you? Please leave a comment below. Thank you.

Help us to spread messages of kindness. If you know others who might appreciate these ideas, please share below.

We’re grateful that you are on this journey with us.

With love from our hearts to yours,
Pat and Larry