“You Have to Believe”
“Shake it Off, Stomp it Down, Step Up
A story is told of a farmer whose mule fell into an abandoned well. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to get the mule out of the well, the farmer decided it was a hopeless situation. With sadness, the farmer figured that the only humane thing to do would be to haul truckloads of dirt to bury the old mule, while filling in the dangerous well, at the same time.
He backed up the truck, and began to shovel in the dirt. The old mule, however, went berserk when the first load of dirt hit its back. That old mule started shaking off the dirt, stomping it down and stepping up a bit. Shovel-full after shovel-full caused the mule to shake off the dirt and firmly stomp it down.
Truckload after truckload, the old mule repeated the same process. It shook off the dirt, stomped it down and stepped up a bit. Little by little, that mule was lifting itself out of the hole.
No matter how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought off panic when it realized that no matter how much was dumped on its back all it had to do was shake it off, stomp it down and step up. And, guess what? It wasn’t too long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, triumphantly stepped out of the well.
Have you ever noticed that there are different ways people have of dealing with the problems life dumps on them? If we respond to our problems positively, and refuse to panic, or fall further into bitterness and despair, the adversities that come along to bury us usually contain within them the potential to benefit and bless us! Rather than burying us, the adversities and criticisms can make us better, lifting us up, bit by bit.” (Bill Denton)
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“You say, it’s dark. And in truth, I did place a cloud before your sun. but do you not see how the edges of the cloud are already glowing and turning light.” (Nietzsche)
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“There are two primary choices in life: to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them.” (Denis Waitley)
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“You have to believe.
Otherwise, it will never happen.” (Neil Gaiman, Stardust)
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Catalyst Quotes 