2020.03.18(星期三)

學習放下

  一位心理學教授在一個講台上四處走動，向學生講壓力管理原理。當她舉起一杯水時，每個人都希望他們會被問到一個典型的「杯子半空或杯子半滿」的問題。相反，教授面帶微笑，問道：「我拿著的這杯水有多重？」

  學生大聲喊著答案，範圍從八盎司到幾磅不等。

  她回答說：從我的角度來看，這杯水的絕對重量並不重要。這一切都取決於我持有多久。如果我拿著一兩分鐘，那就很輕了。如果我連續保持一個小時，它的重量可能會使我的手臂有些疼痛。如果我連續堅持一天，手臂可能會抽筋，感覺完全麻木和癱瘓，迫使我將玻璃杯摔落在地板上。在每種情況下，玻璃杯的重量都不會改變，但是我握住玻璃杯的時間越長，感覺就越重。

她繼續說道：您的生活壓力和煩惱就像一杯水。考慮他們一段時間，什麼也沒有發生。再想一想，您會開始感到疼痛。一整天都在考慮它們，您會感到完全麻木和麻痺–無法做任何其他事情，直到您放下它們。

道德：重要的是要記住要釋放壓力和後顧之憂。無論白天發生什麼事情，儘早在傍晚，減輕所有負擔。不要將它們整夜帶入第二天。如果您仍然感覺到昨天壓力的沉重，則強烈表明該放下杯子了。 

The Weight of the Glass

Once upon a time a psychology professor walked around on a stage while teaching stress management principles to an auditorium filled with students.  As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the typical “glass half empty or glass half full” question.  Instead, with a smile on her face, the professor asked, “How heavy is this glass of water I’m holding?”

Students shouted out answers ranging from eight ounces to a couple pounds.

She replied, “From my perspective, the absolute weight of this glass doesn’t matter.  It all depends on how long I hold it.  If I hold it for a minute or two, it’s fairly light.  If I hold it for an hour straight, its weight might make my arm ache a little.  If I hold it for a day straight, my arm will likely cramp up and feel completely numb and paralyzed, forcing me to drop the glass to the floor.  In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it feels to me.”

As the class shook their heads in agreement, she continued, “Your stresses and worries in life are very much like this glass of water.  Think about them for a while and nothing happens.  Think about them a bit longer and you begin to ache a little.  Think about them all day long, and you will feel completely numb and paralyzed – incapable of doing anything else until you drop them.”

The moral:  It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses and worries.  No matter what happens during the day, as early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down.  Don’t carry them through the night and into the next day with you.  If you still feel the weight of yesterday’s stress, it’s a strong sign that it’s time to put the glass down.