A group of alumni, highly established in their careers got together to visit their old university professor. Their conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in their hands, the professor said, “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best of yourselves, that is the source of your problem and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup. But you consciously went for the best cups, and then you began eyeing each other’s cups.”
Now consider this, he continued, “Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in the society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life and the type of cup we have does not define or change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.
So, what should you do?
Focus on your coffee - your life and not just on the cup - your job and money. Yes, do focus on the cups because they add to the look of your coffee, but let the cups not become the basis of your satisfaction, because coffee (life) satisfies you more than the cups (money) you have. If you are not happy with your own life, money can never make you happy.
Why do you think you have to enjoy your coffee, your life?
Because you live only once?! And because you have God’s gift, and you have to utilise it the fullest. We have so many things right in front of us which would make our lives beautiful. But we always try to search for happiness in things that are far from us. We rarely understand that happiness starts from within us. It lies within us, and we search for it everywhere else. You’re the only one who can make your life. It’s upto you to decide whether you’ll focus on the cups or the coffee.
And, how do you do this?
Count your blessings instead of your troubles. Think of all the small things that make you happy. True happiness lies in little things. Be grateful for everything you have. And yes, you’ll start enjoying each and every sip of your coffee with your heart.
Remember, God brews the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee! The happiest people don’t have the best of every thing. They just make the best of everything they have.
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