Once upon a time there was a ten-year-old boy, very smart for his age. One day, that boy went to visit his grandfather. He went to his house with one fixed idea in mind: he wanted to succeed in life and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it.
His grandfather had been a successful person, so if there was any secret, he would certainly tell him. Without further ado, he asked him:
– When I grow up, I want to be very successful, like you. Can you give me some advice on how to achieve that?
The grandfather did not answer him, he took the boy by the hand and took him to the nursery where he usually bought plants. Then he asked him to choose two trees.
When they got home, they planted them. They placed one in the garden and the other in a pot inside the house.
“Which of the two trees will grow better?” the grandfather then asked.
The boy took a few minutes to think and replied:
– The potted tree, because it is inside the house, protected and safe. The one that is outside will have to face the rain, the sun and the wind, will have more difficulty growing and may even die.
The grandfather shrugged and said nothing more.
Years passed, while the grandfather looked after both plants. One day, the boy, who was already a young man, remembered the question he had asked his grandfather years before.
– You never answered my question. How can I succeed?
The old man took his grandson to see both trees. Then he asked him:
– Which one has grown more?
The young man was perplexed, that made no sense.
– How is this possible? The potted tree had all the conditions indoors. It should have grown bigger!
The grandfather smiled.
– The safest option allows you to survive but not achieve success or live a fulfilling life. Instead, dangers become challenges that push you to grow. Only by having the courage to take risks can you discover your true potential.– The safest option allows you to survive but not achieve success or live a fulfilling life. Instead, dangers become challenges that push you to grow. Only by having the courage to take risks can you discover your true potential.– The safest option allows you to survive but not achieve success or live a fulfilling life. Instead, dangers become challenges that push you to grow. Only by having the courage to take risks can you discover your true potential.
Five essential conditions for success and living fully
The metaphor of the two trees is a very simple story, but it contains great lessons for our lives. In fact, we often think like that child and long for an easy life, where everything flows smoothly, there are no obstacles and there is no place for suffering. We do not realize that it is in extreme situations, in the midst of adversity, that we bring out the best in ourselves and qualitative growth occurs on the psychological level.
What practical lessons can we draw from this metaphor?
1. Aim high. If you are not able to build your own dreams, someone will pay you to build theirs. Every person who has gone far in life has done so because he or she has dared to dream, to challenge conventions and even to ignore the fatalities that could be associated with his or her social status or health problems. Remember that for those who do not know where they are going, no wind is favorable.
2. Get out of your comfort zone. We feel safe in our comfort zone, but that is not where our dreams come true. Getting out of your comfort zone means daring to think differently, accepting uncertainty and taking a certain amount of risk. It is not about jumping into the void without a parachute, but it is essential to explore new territories, because you do not get different results by always doing the same things.
3. Take obstacles as challenges. We all encounter stones along the way. Some people pick them up and carry them in their backpacks until the weight is too much for them. Others push them aside so they can continue their journey with light luggage. Problems can be obstacles that generate frustration and make you lose motivation, or, on the contrary, they can push you to grow. However, the direction depends on your attitude.
4. Take advantage of opportunities. Every situation always has positive aspects, although we are often so distracted that we are not able to notice them. However, successful people are those who have known how to grasp opportunities and take advantage of them. It is not about being in the right moment at the right time, as many think. In reality, success is not a question of luck but of perspicacity, of seeing beyond the circumstances and projecting oneself into the future.
5. Trust in your own strength. Any path to a fuller life is marked by self-confidence. Self-confidence is the true fuel that feeds motivation, it is what allows us to stay focused and not lose hope even in the most difficult moments. Of course, it is not a magic wand, but if there is one thing that is certain, it is that the lack of confidence in your abilities will lead you directly to a dead end.
