A good friend of mine once told me a story that went kind of like this. Thought I would share.

The Boy & His Elder

Imagine the scene: a young boy wishes to learn the ways of his elder. The boy is discontented with the fact that he isn't happy all of the time. He wants to master his mind and be in control of his emotions. He is sick of experiencing stress, depression, anxiety, and fear.

The boy looks up to a local elder in his village and sees him as the answer to all of life's problems. He is constantly asking him questions:

"What should I do to become like you?"

"How do I remain happy all the time?"

"How can I master my mind?"

The elder has a big heart for the boy and truly wishes to help him. He instructs the boy to go spend one hour each day meditating, and to return to him in a week.

"In one week, return to me" the elder says.

The First Week

After careful instruction and practice, the boy learns to control his breathing, master his thoughts, and to simply observe himself and his thoughts without judgment. The boy takes his daily meditation seriously, excited that the elder even gave the time to instruct him.

As the week passes, the boy soon notices that he hasn't been stressed out all week. Not a single thought of anger of fear has hit him. He soon realizes that it was perhaps the fact that he had been meditating as instructed which causes this change.

The boy is happier than he has ever been.

The First Reunion with the Elder

"How was your week?" the elder asks the boy.

"I'm wonderful. I haven't felt this happy in my life! I haven't a single negative thought all week" the boy replies.

"Excellent. This too shall pass. Go back and meditate for an hour each day again and return to me in another week."

The Second Week

Confused, the boy leaves the elder and returns home. He thinks about what the elder had said. He quickly becomes troubled. He wonders why he needs to return to the elder after another week when he already seemingly mastered his thoughts and found permanent happiness.

He continues to meditate each day, but something soon becomes apparent. He is not in control of his thoughts as he was before. He becomes worried that he is doing something wrong. Worry soon turns to fear that he is inadequate.

With each passing day, the boy becomes more and more stressed in anticipation of the second meeting with the elder. He does not know how to tell him that the meditation simply didn't work this time. After all, if meditation is what the elder prescribes, he must be doing something wrong.

He becomes mad at himself. Worried that the elder will judge him. Afraid that he cannot be cured. However, the week soon passes and it is time to meet again with the elder.

The Second Meeting with the Elder

Embarrassed, the boy stumbles back to the home of his elder at the end of the second week.

"How was your week?" the elder again asks the boy.

"Not good" the boy replies, "it was nothing like last week. I experienced stress, fear, anxiety, and worry."

"Excellent. This too shall pass. Go back and meditate for an hour each day again and return to me in another week" the elder repetitively responds.

Moral of the Story

Life isn't always about being happy. Some days will be excellent, others not so much. Just how the boy experienced a week of pure bliss, so do we all from time-to-time. However, it's important to remember that sometimes it is perfectly normal and natural to feel under the weather.

Whether it be from sickness, daily routine, or personal circumstances, experiencing negative emotions is both natural and healthy every now and then. The best thing you can do is stick with "it," whether it be your daily meditation, prayer, or whatever your spiritual outlet is. Take time for yourself, remember who you are, and keep living.