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your life is always speaking to you


the echo of life 




A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the 
boy trips and feeling a sharp pain he screams, "Ahhhhh." 

Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, 
"Ahhhhh!" 

Filled with curiosity, he screams: "Who are you?", but the 
only answer he receives is: "Who are you?" 

This makes him angry, so he screams: "You are a coward!", 
and the voice answers: "You are a coward!" 

He looks at his father, asking, "Dad, what is going on?" 

"Son," the man replies, "pay attention!" Then he screams, 
"I admire you!" 

The voice answers: "I admire you!" 

The father shouts, "You are wonderful!", and the voice 
answers: "You are wonderful!" 

The boy is surprised, but still can't understand what is 
going on. 

Then the father explains, "People call this 'ECHO', but 
truly it is 'LIFE!' Life always gives you back what you 
give out! Life is a mirror of your actions. If you want 
more love, give more love! If you want more kindness, give 
more kindness! If you want understanding and respect, give 
understanding and respect! If you want people to be patient 
and respectful to you, give patience and respect! This rule 
of nature applies to every aspect of our lives." 

Life always gives you back what you give out. Your life is 
not a coincidence, but a mirror of your own doings. 

Personal Commentary

When I first encountered this story years ago, I found it to be powerfully moving and inspiring.  Upon rereading it recently, I wanted to share it here on Spiritual Anthropology. What I know for sure is your life is always speaking to you. Sometimes the voice is so familiar you ignore it. Sometimes it's foreign and you don't even recognize it. But more often than not, the voice is there leading you to a place of truth. 

 Notice the shift in the young boy's pronouncements...
 "Who are you?"
 "You are a coward." 
(The shift occurs when the father tells him to pay attention.) 
"I admire you." 
"You are wonderful." 

 Paying attention to your inner and outer dialogue is a crucial part of changing your thought patterns and creating a new experience for yourself. When you notice the negative conversations, you don't judge them, you simply counter them with the truth. By affirming the good and beautiful and true, you move from a space of victimization to a space of power. 

 When you take responsibility for your thoughts, you simultaneously do the same for your actions. Hence the spiritual law the father references; "Life always gives you back what you give out." It's always in effect, whether you believe it or not. 

Dig Deeper Question: What is your echo shouting back to you? 

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