Skip to main content

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? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

who are we when we love? Honoring Nelson Mandela

I remember very vividly the summer I first read Nelson Mandela's A LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. I was living at my grandmother's house then. At nineteen years old, it was the longest book I had ever attempted to read. But I felt my soul leaping and growing and telling me that I had to live courageously. I could not afford to not fight for justice. I could not afford to not dedicate my life to love's purposes.  By reading Mandela's story, I saw what the best of humanity looked like. I saw that no matter how much oppression and humiliation others may inflict upon us, we can rise above it. We can choose to not let their evil define us.  Nelson Mandela is my hero. He was a giant of a man who had the unique ability to make others feel even larger than he was. You see, that is what great people do. They remind us that the light they have is inside all of us as well. We only need to let it shine, fearlessly and with the intent of eradicating evil by the power of love....
Post a Comment
Read more

i am grateful for OPRAH

Yesterday, my "Angel Mother" as i like to call her, Ms. Oprah G. Winfrey received the highest honor in the land-- The Presidential Medal of Freedom. President Obama applauded her for... "reaching the pinnacle of the entertainment universe." For twenty-five years, The Oprah Winfrey Show helped to extend the conversation about topics that were taboo; from sexual abuse to cellulite, she made it okay to tell the truth. She created a safe space for people to come and leave their shame and the secrets that blocked their light. Because of this, millions of others were liberated by the knowledge that they were not alone in their suffering. I started watching the Oprah show when I was around eight or nine years old. Her voice was soothing. Her insights were as wise and profound as those of my own mother. I saw the same light in her eyes that I saw in my mother's eyes. I believe it was because of this that she would go on to mean even more to me after my mother lost ...
Post a Comment
Read more

i am grateful for LOVE: part deux 11.12.13

yesterday, i posted this status on facebook: "i love my single life and i am grateful to have peace in abundance. our relationship status does not define who we are. my worth is not measured by external conditions, terms or symbols. i am the i am of myself. i alone am enough." and oh, how was i surprised by the likes and responses. and then it dawned on me---- maybe, just maybe there are more single people who are content with being single than i realize. i believe this resonated with people because they too have found some kind of solace in being single. now by nature, i love solitude. nothing moves me more than being alone, except maybe jazz or a beautiful arrangement of white hydrangas or dinner at my favorite local restaurant, The Parlor Market. my creativity flourishes when i can have that. however, i also love people. i'm interested in them and their experiences because i realize that we all can be teachers for one another.  so i wanted to delve fu...
Post a Comment
Read more