The Camel Driver and the Sandstorm (Middle East)
A camel driver once found himself caught in a desert sandstorm. Blinded and lost, he didn’t know where he was or if he would survive. However, instead of panicking, he covered himself and his camel and waited out the storm. When it finally passed, he could see the horizon again and found his way. He learned from this experience to stay calm during difficult moments, knowing they will pass. Lessons The account of the camel driver trapped in a desert sandstorm offers valuable lessons on resilience, patience, and mental fortitude. These are some important lessons: The Authority of Waiting:
Healing Over Answers: Life Lessons from The Story of the Poisoned Arrow
In the Buddhist tale "The Poisoned Arrow," a man suffers a wound from a poisoned arrow during a battle. Writhing in pain and nearing death, he arrives at a healer, who begins preparing to remove the arrow and treat the injury. However, before the healer can proceed, the man interrupts with a barrage of questions. He demands to know who shot him, the attacker's caste, their origin, and the type of bow and arrow used. He also asks whether the attacker is tall or short, fair or dark, and which clan they belong to. The healer urges him to
The Ant and the Grasshopper : A Tale of preparation and responsibility
Once upon a time, on a warm and sunny day in a meadow, a busy little ant was working tirelessly, gathering wheat grains for winter storage. She knew the cold months were coming and wanted to be prepared. Meanwhile, as she carried one grain after another back to her nest, a grasshopper sat nearby, watching her with amusement. The Grasshopper, relaxed and carefree, spent his days singing, playing, and enjoying the sun. When he saw the ant working, he chuckled and called her, "Why are you working so hard dear ant? There's plenty of food right now, and winter
Lessons on Contentment and Self-Worth from The Dog and His Reflection
Once upon a time, a dog came upon a juiced bone. Thrilled with his gift, he gripped it securely in his teeth and hurried off to savour it quietly. He passed a little bridge across a quiet pond on his route. He peered down and saw his reflection in the water below, but he didn't realise it was only a reflection. Instead, he considered it another dog with an even larger, juicier bone. Greedy, the dog concluded he also wanted that other bone. Hoping to frighten him off and grab his bone, he opened his lips to bark at
Letting Go: Lessons from the Two Monks and the River
Once, two monks—an older and a younger one—travelled together. Along their journey, they came to a river with a strong current. A woman stood by the river, unable to cross alone. She asked the monks if they could help her. Without hesitation, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, and gently set her down on the other side. However, this action shocked the younger monk. They were, after all, monks who had taken vows not to touch women. He held his tongue initially but couldn't stop thinking about it as they continued their journey.
Trust and True Nature: Lessons from the Scorpion and the Dog
Once upon a time, a scorpion who could not swim wanted to cross a river. He saw a dog nearby and asked, "Will you carry me across the river on your back?" The dog was cautious. "You are a scorpion," he replied. "You would sting me if I let you on my back, and I would drown." The scorpion shot back, "Why would I sting you? If I do, we'll both sink and die. Trust me." Reluctantly, the dog accepted, and the scorpion ascended his back. Everything appeared good as they started across the river—until they reached the centre.
Escaping the Perfection Trap: How Letting Go Boosted My Success and Happiness
Escaping the Perfection Trap: How Letting Go Boosted My Success and Happiness For years, I held myself to impossibly high standards, demanding perfection from every task, relationship, and project. I had this unrelenting drive to result in success. Instead, it resulted in exhaustion, irritation, and unhappiness. As I got more focused on achieving flawless results, I realised that perfectionism was not an asset but an addictive loop that sapped my energy and that of others. My turning point came when I read Marion Woodman's Addiction to Perfection. Woodman's work provides important insights into the dark side of perfectionism, examining
Ending the Trap: How Putting Myself First Increased My Performance at Work
For a long time, I had the misconception that working nonstop was the key to success. I sacrificed my relationships, mental health, and equilibrium in the process of pushing myself to my limits in pursuit of my professional aspirations. While I accomplished a lot, I should have paid more attention to the people and experiences that really mattered because I was too preoccupied with getting things done. I learned with time that success at the expense of one's health couldn’t be maintained. My mornings look drastically different now. At five in the morning, I make it a point to
How to Avoid Burnout in Leadership Roles: Unfiltered Tips
A leader's burnout is a genuine thing, and it can strike without warning. As a leader, you push yourself and your team to achieve while juggling duties, making high-stakes decisions, and always being in the spotlight. The harsh reality, though, is that your company will fail along with you if you neglect your health. Here is what you should do to keep from becoming burned out, so let's get right to the point. See the Warning Signs Before They Derail You Burnout takes time to set in. It builds slowly, and if you're not careful, it will engulf you.
Understanding various personality types will help you lead when “surrounded by idiots”
Have you ever felt like you’re in a room full of complete idiots as a leader? Although managers and employers frequently find this frustrating, the truth is often more nuanced. Recognising and accommodating the wide range of team members' personalities is the key to effective leadership in challenging situations. This blog delves into the four personality types defined in Thomas Erikson’s book Surrounded by Idiots—Red, Yellow, Green, and Blue—and provides practical tactics for effectively leading each one. It draws on the ideas from the book to do so. According to Erikson, there are four main personality types, each of
