The Impatient Fisherman
Mr. Wilson decided to
go fishing and he promised his wife he would bring her back some fish. So he
walked down to the river under the bright afternoon sun and sat down on a rock
with his fishing pole.
But there wasn’t a
fish to be seen. Every so often a little bitty fish would zip by where he was
sitting, and he would chase it with his net until he would trip on a rock and
fall face down into the water. “Lousy fish!” Mr. Wilson grunted.
The day wore on, the
sun started to set, and Mr. Wilson still had not caught a single fish. He
became frustrated and he was stomping angrily in the water when his next-door
neighbor, Mr. Brown and his son Billy, came up to the river’s edge to watch
the sunset and catch a few fish.
Mr. Wilson didn’t
even speak to them as he stormed off because he was frustrated by his wasted
afternoon.
“Gee!” Billy said.
“He’s pretty angry, isn’t he?”
“Hungry, I suppose,”
Mr. Brown said. “He should’ve waited a bit longer. The fish come up to feed
when the air is cool like this.”
As he spoke, they
heard the sound of fish breaking the surface of the water, and the father and
son easily scooped half a dozen fish out of the river.
How often do we quit
when we’re just one step away from our goal? Sometimes we get into the trap of
thinking the world is working against us and that nothing is going our way and
never will. In reality, however, we’re creating our own pain and suffering!
If Mr. Wilson wanted
to catch fish, spending a few minutes learning about their habits would have
made a big difference in his results. Knowing what they like to eat, when they
eat, and where they’re most likely to rest would have saved him a day of
frustration and kept him in dry clothes.
When things seem to
be going from bad to worse, it may be time to pull back and think differently
about the situation. What is there that we don’t know? Is there someone who has been here before and may have some insight that would help us to be more successful?
Pride and frustration
may be keeping us from discovering just the information we need to
succeed.
Perhaps we should ask
for ideas from those who have been successful in the past. Most people are not
only willing to help, but they’re also happy to share their lessons
learned.
Think about those
areas of your life where you feel like you’re spinning your wheels and, no
matter how much effort you expend, the results just aren’t there. Then ask
yourself if a better plan or a mentor could help you move past that obstacle.
Maybe you already
have the understanding you need, but you’re too busy rushing forward to think
through a plan. Slowing down, taking your time, and examining the best course
forward often saves you a lot of time and effort. This strategy will lead you
to far greater successes in your life!
It’s better to move
patiently and wisely forward, than to be the first to the lake and leave
emptyhanded once again.
Things to ask
yourself:
Is there an area of
my life where I feel frustrated and unsuccessful?
What friend,
coworker, or family member may know more about the situation than I do?
Is pride or
frustration keeping me from asking for help in areas where I can be more
successful?
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