The glass of water

The following anecdote came to my email inbox as a forwarded mail. It's one of those inspirational ones that do the rounds on the web.

A professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see and asked the students, "How much do you think this glass weighs?"

 

"50gms... 100gms... 125gms..." the students answered.

"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor. Now let me ask you another question: "What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"

 

"Nothing," one student said.

 

"Ok, what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?" the professor asked.

 

"Your arm would begin to ache," said one of the students.

 

"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"

 

"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress and paralysis and would have to go to hospital for sure!" ventured another student.

 

"Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?" asked the professor.

 

"No," the students said.

 

"Then what caused the arm ache and the muscle stress?" the students were quite puzzled.

 

"Put the glass down!" said one of the students.

 

"Exactly!" said the professor. "Life's problems are something like this. Hold it for a few minutes in your head and they seem okay. Think of them for a long time and it becomes a problem you can't carry. You are stressed out, and paralysed.

 

It's important to think of the challenges (problems) in your life, but even more important than that is "to put them down".