Have you ever watched a movie or read a book that had a lasting impact on you?
Stories are one of the most powerful ways to guide, teach, and inspire people. Storytelling is effective because it helps to establish connections among people, as well as between people and the ideas that unite humanity.
Inspirational stories move past creating a sense of connection, and allow the listener to identify with the story wherever they are in their own life, which makes them more receptive to learning.
Some of the best stories contain several different meanings or lessons so they’re effective in communicating complex ideas in ways that are easy to understand.
Finally, storytelling has characteristics that benefits the three main types of learning: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.
Visual learners benefit from the mental pictures that stories evoke.
Auditory learners are able to focus on the words and voice of the storyteller.
And kinesthetic learners can retain the emotional connections that they feel were created in the story.
No matter what type of learner you are, you can benefit from an inspirational story that comes with a moral.
In this article, I will share 23 short inspirational stories that can teach you valuable lessons.
23 Best Inspirational Short Stories with a Motivating Moral
1. Three Feet From Gold
Watch the Video of This Story:
The Story:
During the gold rush, a man who had been mining in Colorado for several months quit his job, as he hadn’t struck gold yet and the work was becoming tiresome. He sold his equipment to another man who resumed mining where it had been left off.
The new miner was advised by his engineer that there was gold only three feet away from where the first miner stopped digging.
The engineer was right, which means the first miner was a mere three feet away from striking gold before he quit.
The Moral:
When things start to get hard, try to persevere through the adversity.
Many people give up on following their dreams because the work becomes too difficult, tedious, or tiresome–but often, you’re closer to the finish line than you may think, and if you push just a little harder, you will succeed.
2. Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand
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The Story:
A philosophy professor once stood up before his class with a large empty mayonnaise jar. He filled the jar to the top with large rocks and asked his students if the jar was full.
His students all agreed the jar was full.
He then added small pebbles to the jar, and gave the jar a bit of a shake so the pebbles could disperse themselves among the larger rocks. Then he asked again, “Is the jar full now?”
The students agreed that the jar was still full.
The professor then poured sand into the jar to fill up all the remaining empty space.
The students then agreed again that the jar was full.
The Metaphor:
In this story, the jar represents your life and the rocks, pebbles, and sand are the things that fill up your life.
The rocks represent the most important projects and things you have going on, such as spending time with your family and maintaining proper health. This means that if the pebbles and the sand were lost, the jar would still be full and your life would still have meaning.
The pebbles represent the things in your life that matter, but that you could live without.
The pebbles are certainly things that give your life meaning (such as your job, house, hobbies, and friendships), but they are not critical for you to have a meaningful life.
These things often come and go, and are not permanent or essential to your overall well-being.
Finally, the sand represents the remaining filler things in your life, and material possessions. This could be small things such as watching television, browsing through your favorite social media site, or running errands.
These things don't mean much to your life as a whole, and are likely only done to waste time or get small tasks accomplished.
The Moral:
The metaphor here is that if you start with putting sand into the jar, you will not have room for rocks or pebbles.
This holds true with the things you let into your life. If you spend all of your time on the small and insignificant things, you will run out of room for the things that are actually important.
In order to have a more effective and efficient life, pay attention to the “rocks,” because they are critical to your long-term well-being.
3. The Elephant Rope
Watch the Video of This Story:
The Story:
When walking through an elephant camp, a man noticed that the elephants were only secured with a small rope that was tied around one ankle. He wondered why the elephants didn’t break free from the rope, as the elephants were certainly strong enough to do so.
He asked a trainer why the elephants didn’t try to break free, and the trainer responded by saying that they use the same size rope for baby elephants all the way up to adulthood.
Because they’re too small when they’re babies to break free from the rope, they grow up being conditioned that the rope is stronger than they are. As adults, they think the rope can still hold them, so they don’t try to fight it.
The Moral:
The elephants in this case are experiencing learned helplessness. This phenomenon occurs when someone has been conditioned to anticipate discomfort in some way without having a way to avoid it or make it stop.
After enough conditioning, the person will stop any attempts to avoid the pain, even if they see an opportunity to escape.
If you go through life thinking that you can’t do something just because you have failed at doing it in the past, you’re living with a fixed mindset.
You have to let go of your limiting beliefs in order to make the breakthroughs that are required for your ultimate success.
Don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do something, and don’t hold onto an assumption that you can’t grow and learn from past failures.
4. A Wise Man’s Jokes
The Story:
A wise man once faced a group of people who were complaining about the same issues over and over again. One day, instead of listening to the complaints, he told them a joke and everyone cracked up laughing.
Then, the man repeated the joke. A few people smiled.
Finally, the man repeated the joke a third time–but no one reacted.
The man smiled and said, “You won’t laugh at the same joke more than once. So what are you getting from continuing to complain about the same problem?”
The Moral:
You’re not going to get anywhere if you keep complaining about the same problem but do nothing to fix it.
Don’t waste your time complaining, expecting other people to continue to react to your complaints. Instead, take action to make a change.
5. It’s Never Too Late
Watch the Video of This Story:
The Story:
In the 1940s, there was a man who, at the age of 65, was living off of $99 social security checks in a small house, driving a beat-up car.
He decided it was time to make a change, so he thought about what he had to offer that other people may benefit from. His mind went to his fried chicken recipe, which his friends and family loved.
He left his home state of Kentucky and traveled throughout the country, trying to sell his recipe to restaurants. He even offered the recipe for free, asking for only a small chunk of the money that was earned.
However, most of the restaurants declined his offer. In fact, 1,009 restaurants said no.
But even after all of the rejections, he persisted. He believed in himself and his chicken recipe.
When he visited restaurant #1,010, he got a YES.
His name?
Colonel Hartland Sanders.
The Moral:
There are a few lessons that you can take away from this story.
First, it’s never too late in life to find success. In a society that often celebrates young, successful people, it’s easy to start to think you’re never going to be successful after a certain age.
However, Colonel Sanders is an example that proves that argument wrong.
This story also demonstrates the power of persistence. You have to have confidence in yourself and believe in your work for other people to believe it also.
Disregard anyone who tells you “no” and simply move on.
6. The Boulder and the Gold
The Story:
There once was a king who decided to do a little experiment. He had a giant boulder put right in the middle of the street. He then hid near the boulder to see who, if anyone, would try to move it out of the way.
First, some wealthy merchants walked by. They walked around the boulder, complaining that the king hasn’t been maintaining the roads very well.
Next, a peasant walked by, heading home with his arms full of food for his family. When he noticed the boulder, he put his groceries down and attempted to move it out of everyone’s way. It took him a while to move it, but he eventually succeeded.
After the peasant gathered up his groceries to carry on home, he noticed a bag lying in the middle of the road, just where the boulder once was.
He opened the bag to find that it was stuffed full of gold coins, along with a letter from the king saying that the bag’s gold was a reward for the peasant to keep.
The king gave this gift because the peasant had taken the time and energy to move the boulder out of the road for the convenience of others who would be traveling the road in the future.
The Moral:
The peasant in this story was taught by the king that every obstacle you face offers an opportunity to improve.
If you’re able to push through moments that are challenging, you may end up being much better off than you were before you started trying.
This story also offers a lesson of personal responsibility.
If you see a job ahead of you, don’t leave it for the next person to do. Rather, step up and get the job done to help the people who come after you.
(To learn more about this concept, here are 8 key ingredients of personal responsibility.)
7. Dirty Money
The Story:
A well-respected speaker began a seminar by showing an audience of 150 people a crisp $20 bill.
He asked, “Who wants this $20 bill?”
All 150 people nodded.
He said, “I am going to give this money to someone, but first….”
Then he proceeded to crumple the bill up.
He asked the crowd again if anyone wanted it.
All 150 hands went up in the air.
The speaker then dropped the money on the floor and stomped all over it.
He then raised it in the air to show the crowd. The money was filthy.
“Does anyone want it now?”
Every hand went up.
The speaker proceeded to tell the crowd that no matter what he did to ruin the money, people still wanted it because its value remained the same.
It was still worth $20.
The Moral:
Life often beats us up to the point where we feel inadequate. We deal with bad circumstances and make bad choices that we have to deal with later. However, no matter what you go through, your value will remain the same.
You have something special to offer that no one can take away from you.
8. The Ultimate Test
The Story:
One night, four college students stayed up late partying, even though they knew they had a test the next day. The next morning, they came up with a plan to get out of having to take their test.
Each student rolled around in dirt and then went to the teacher’s office.
They told the teacher that they had gotten a flat tire the night before, and they spent the entire night pushing their car back to campus.
The teacher listened, and to the students’ delight, he offered a retest three days later.
On the day of the test, the students went to their teacher’s office. The teacher put all four of the students in separate rooms to take the test. The students were okay with that because they had been given a chance to study.
The test had 2 questions:
1) Your Name __________ (1 Points)
2) Which tire was flat? __________ (99 Points)
- Front Right
- Front Left
- Back Right
- Back Left
The Moral:
Aside from making wise decisions, you always need to take responsibility for your actions.
This means not blaming other people for your mistakes, not complaining about the reality of the present moment, and not giving in to other people’s pressure.
9. What a Waste
The Story:
A mother camel and her baby were lying down, soaking up the sun.
The baby camel asked his mom, “Why do we have these big bumps on our back?”
The mom stopped to think and then said, “We live in the desert where there is not much water available. Our humps store water to help us survive on long journeys.”
The baby camel then stopped to think and said, “Well, why do we have long legs with rounded feet?”
His mother replied, “They are meant to help us walk through sand.”
The baby asked a third question, “Why are my eyelashes so long?”
The mother replied, “Your long eyelashes offer you protection from sand when it blows in the wind.”
Finally, the baby said, “If we have all of these natural abilities given to us to walk through the desert, what’s the use for camels in the Zoo?”
The Moral:
The skills and abilities that you possess won’t be useful if you’re not in the right environment.
You’ve probably heard of a professional who ditched his or her career to follow their dreams–or the person who remains unfulfilled in their job, but doesn’t try to make a change.
If you’re stuck in a career that isn’t the right fit, you have to do some self-reflection to realize where you strengths lie that are going to waste. (Here is a five-step process to identify your personal strengths.)
Turn to people that you know the best as well as professionals in any given market so you can start thinking about what may be better for you.
Think big and remain open to new ideas.
10. Breathing With No Air
The Story:
A boy once asked a wise old man what the secret to success is.
After listening to the boy’s question, the wise man told the boy to meet him at the river in the morning and he would be given the answer there.
In the morning, the wise man and the boy began walking toward the river. They continued on into the river, past the point of the water covering their nose and mouth. At this time, the wise man ducked the boy into the water.
As he struggled to get out, the wise man continued to push him further down. The boy felt a fish slip by his leg and squirmed to get up even harder. The man eventually pulled the boy’s head up so he could get air. The boy gasped as he inhaled a deep breath of air.
The wise man said, ‘What were you fighting for when you were under water?”
The boy replied, “Air!”
The man said, “There you have the secret to success. When you want to gain success as much as you wanted air when you were under water, you will obtain it. That’s the only secret.”
The Moral:
Success starts with the desire to achieve something.
If your motivation is weak, your results will follow suit.
Think about what you desire the most in life and work towards getting it. Don’t allow your environment or other people to influence the things that you truly want.
Just because the fish swimming by is comfortable with being under water doesn’t mean that you are.
11. Sweet Dreams
The Story:
A young boy and girl were enjoying a pleasant afternoon playing outside in their neighborhood together.
The boy showed the girl his collection of beautiful, unique marbles. In turn, the girl showed the boy the handful of candy that she had just gotten for her birthday.
The boy proposed that the two of them switch–he would give her all of his marbles if she handed over all of her candy.
The girl agreed, as she found the marbles to be beautiful as well.
The boy handed over all of his marbles, but kept one–the most exquisite one of them all–in his pocket.
The girl kept her promise and gave the boy all of her candy.
That night, the girl was happy with the exchange and peacefully went to sleep.
The boy, however, couldn’t sleep, as he was up wondering if the girl had secretly kept some of her candy, just like he did with the marble.
The Moral:
If you don’t give 100% in your relationships, you will always assume your partner isn’t giving 100% either.
If you want your relationships to be built on trust, you have to be a participating factor in that.
Honesty grows your character.
By being honest in relationships, you’re holding your partner accountable to do the same. It allows both you and your partner to continuously think about your choices and how you can help (or hurt) your partner and your relationship.
12. Teamwork
The Story:
There was once a man who lived with his three sons. His sons were hard workers, but they constantly fought with each other.
Even though the man continuously tried to help his sons make peace with each other, he was never successful. In fact, their fighting got to a point where their neighbors would make fun of them.
Eventually, the father became ill. He begged his sons to learn how to work together because of his impending death, but they didn’t listen. The father then decided to teach his sons a practical lesson to help his sons forget their differences and become a united team.
The father called his sons and said, “I’ll give you each an equal collection of sticks to break in half. Whoever breaks the sticks the fastest will be rewarded.”
After agreeing to the task, the father gave each of his sons 10 sticks and instructed them to break each stick in half.
This task took the sons mere minutes to complete, but once they were finished, they started to fight about who finished first.
The father said, “Dear sons, the task isn’t finished. Now I’ll give each of you 10 more sticks, however, you must break the sticks in half as a bundle rather than snapping each one separately.”
His sons agreed and attempted to do what he had asked. They each tried their best, but none could break the bundle in half.
They told their father that they had failed.
In response, their father said, “See, it was easy to break the sticks in half individually, but you couldn’t break all 10 of them at the same time.
Similarly, if the three of you stay united as a team, nobody will be able to harm you. However, if you fight all the time, anyone will be able to defeat you. Please come together as a united team.”
This lesson helped the man’s sons understand the power of being a team and promised their father that, moving forward, they would work together as a team, no matter what the situation was.
The Moral:
Being an effective member of a team helps contribute to the overall moral and motivation of the team.
Strong teams are naturally aligned to work harder, support each other, and be cooperative with working toward a mutual goal.
Individuals each have diverse talents, strengths, and weaknesses to contribute to teamwork, so staying focused on the task at hand rather than allowing personal disputes to get in the way will help you achieve your desired results.
13. Frogs for Dinner
The Story:
A lady was once heating up a pot of water on a gas stove with the intent of cooking pasta for her family for dinner.
A frog fell into the pot while it was sitting on the stove. While it wasn’t his intention to be stuck in a pot of water, he didn’t try to escape. He was comfortable enough as he was.
The lady soon turned on the flame to begin boiling the water.
As the water’s temperature began to rise, the frog was able to adjust his body temperature accordingly, so he remained in the pot without trying to do anything to change the situation.
However, as the water approached its boiling point, the frog’s body temperature could no longer keep up. He finally tried to jump out of the pot, but with water temperature continuing to increase, he didn’t have it in him to make the leap.
It was too late for the frog to save himself.
The Moral:
Things don’t always go as planned in life, and they certainly don’t always go the way we want them to. But, no matter how bad a situation is, it’s critical to be proactive and face the problem head-on.
Unlike the frog, who waited until the last minute to try to do anything about the problem he was clearly facing, it’s important to project the future outcomes of the obstacles that hinder you and mediate them before they get past the point of no return.
You have to avoid wasting time and take appropriate action before problems get out of hand or become too much to handle.
14. Will You Marry Me?
The Story:
Centuries ago, in a small Italian town, there was a business owner who was in a great amount of debt.
His banker, who was an old, unattractive man, strongly desired the business owner’s younger beautiful daughter.
The banker decided to offer the businessman a deal to forgive the debt that he owed the bank completely. However, there was a bit of a catch.
In order for the businessman to become debt-free, he was to have his daughter marry the banker.
The businessman didn’t want to concede to this agreement, but he had no other choice, as his debt was so extreme.
The banker said he would put two small stones into a bag–one of which was white, and the other black.
The daughter would then need to reach into the bag and blindly choose a stone.
If she chose the black stone, the businessman’s debt would be cleared and the daughter would have to marry the banker.
However, if she chose the white stone, the debt would be cleared and the daughter would not have to marry him.
While standing in the stone-filled path in the businessman’s yard, the banker reached down and chose two small stones, not realizing that the businessman’s daughter was watching him. She noticed that he picked up two black stones and put them in the bag.
When it came time for the daughter to pick a stone out of the bag, she felt she had three choices:
- Refuse to do it.
- Take out both stones and expose the banker’s cheating.
- Pick a stone, knowing it would be black, and sacrifice herself to get her father out of debt.
She picked a stone from the bag, and immediately ‘accidentally’ dropped it into the abundance of stones where they were all standing.
She said to the banker, “I’m sorry, I’m so clumsy! Oh well. Just look in the bag to see what color stone is in there now so you will know what color stone I picked.”
Of course, the remaining stone was black. Because the banker didn’t want his deceit to be exposed, he played along, acting as if the stone that the businessman’s daughter dropped had to have been white.
He cleared the businessman’s debt and the daughter remained free from having to spend the rest of her life with the banker.
The Moral:
While you may have to think outside of the box sometimes, it’s always possible to conquer a difficult situation.
You don’t have to always give in to the options you’re presented with.
Challenge the status quo.
Think creatively.
Engage in productive nonconformity when possible.
Don’t be afraid to question the things that are expected to be true. In order to overcome challenges, you have to think in ways that you’ve never thought before.
15. Wait…What?
The Story:
A carpenter who was nearing retirement told his boss that he was ready to end his career and spend his time with his wife and family. He would miss his work, but he felt it was time to spend his time with the people who were important to him.
His boss was saddened by this news, as this carpenter had been a good, reliable employee for many years. He asked the carpenter if he could do him a favor and build just one more house.
The carpenter reluctantly conceded, even though his passion for building had faded.
While he was building this last house, his normal work ethic faded and his efforts were mediocre, at best. He used inexpensive and inferior materials and cut corners wherever he could. It was a poor way to finish such a dedicated career that he once had.
When the carpenter was finished, his boss came to look at the house. He gave the key to the carpenter and said, “This house is my gift to you for all of the hard work you have done for me over the years.”
The carpenter was astonished.
What a generous gift this was to receive from his boss, but if he had known he was building a house for himself, he would have made his usual efforts to create a high-quality home.
The Moral:
The same idea applies to how you build your life.
Every day that you wake up offers an opportunity for you to put your best foot forward, yet we often do mediocre work, saving the more important things for “another” day.
Then one day, we find ourselves shocked that our lives aren’t what we had hoped they would be. The “house” we built to live in has a lot of flaws due to a lack of effort.
However, you can’t go back and rebuild it in a day or two.
As people say, “Life is a do-it-yourself project.”
Your attitude and choices help build the life you will live tomorrow. So…build carefully.
16. Toothpaste Recant
The Story:
One night in July at an all-girls summer camp, the campers were gathered around in a circle for their nighttime devotions.
The counselor asked if any of the girls wanted to share something that had happened that day that impacted them.
One camper raised her hand and said a girl from another camp cabin had said something that hurt her feelings and she was really upset about it.
The camp counselor went to the bathroom to grab a tube of toothpaste.
She took the tube and squeezed it just a bit so some toothpaste came out. She then tried to put the toothpaste back in the tube, but it just created a mess. Then she squeezed the tube even more, pushing more toothpaste out and creating even more of a mess, but none of it would go back into the tube.
The counselor then told the campers, “this toothpaste represents the words you speak. Once you say something that you want to take back, it’s impossible and it only creates a mess. Think before you speak, and make sure your words are going to good use before you let them out.”
The Moral:
Speaking is a fundamental social skill required for living a successful life.
However, many are careless with their words, but they hold so much power. They can have a direct impact on the outcome of a situation, creating a helpful or hurtful reaction in our world. T
he problem is, once words come out of your mouth, no amount of “I’m sorrys” will make them go back in: blurting something out and then attempting to take it back is like shutting the gate after the horse has taken off.
Thinking before you speak allows you the time to consider the potential impact of your words.
Be careful when choosing where and when you let your words out. You can easily hurt other people, and once you do, you can’t take it back.
Words define who we are by revealing our attitudes and character, giving people an indication of our intellect or ignorance.
Stop for a minute before you speak and question yourself about why you’re saying what you are. Are you trying to relay information? Relate to someone else?
Make sure you’re able to take responsibility for whatever you’re about to say.
17. Just Be
The Story:
One evening, after spending several days with his new wife, a man leaned over and whispered into her ear, “I love you.”
She smiled – and the man smiled back – and she said, “When I’m eighty years old and I’m thinking back on my entire life, I know I will remember this moment.”
A few minutes later, she drifted off to sleep.
The man was left with the silence of the room and the soft sound of his wife’s breathing.
He stayed awake, thinking about everything they had done together, from their first date to their first vacation together and ultimately to their big wedding. These were just some of the life choices that the couple had made together that had led to this very moment of silence in the presence of each other.
At one point, the man then realized that it didn’t matter what they had done or where they had gone. Nor did it matter where they were going.
The only thing that mattered was the serenity of that very moment.
Just being together. Breathing together. And resting together.
The Moral:
We can’t let the clock, calendar, or pressure from external sources take over our lives and allow us to forget the fact that every moment of our lives is a gift and a miracle – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant it is.
Being mindful in the special moments that you spend in the presence of the ones that you love are the moments that truly give your life meaning. (For more on this, here are 71 mindfulness exercises you can use to live in the present moment.)
18. The Weight of the World
The Story:
Once, a psychology professor walked around his classroom full of students holding a glass of water with his arm straightened out to the side.
He asked his students, “How heavy is this glass of water?”
The students started to shout out guesses–ranging anywhere from 4 ounces to one pound.
The professor replied, “The absolute weight of this glass isn’t what matters while I’m holding it. Rather, it’s the amount of time that I hold onto it that makes an impact.”
“If I hold it for, say, two minutes, it doesn’t feel like much of a burden. If I hold it for an hour, its weight may become more apparent as my muscles begin to tire.
If I hold it for an entire day–or week–my muscles will cramp and I’ll likely feel numb or paralyzed with pain, making me feel miserable and unable to think about anything aside from the pain that I’m in.“
“In all of these cases, the actual weight of the glass will remain the same, but the longer I clench onto it, the heavier it feels to me and the more burdensome it is to hold.”
The class understood and shook their heads in agreement.
The professor continued to say, “This glass of water represents the worries and stresses that you carry around with you every day. If you think about them for a few minutes and then put them aside, it’s not a heavy burden to bear.
If you think about them a little longer, you will start to feel the impacts of the stress. If you carry your worries with you all day, you will become incapacitated, prohibiting you from doing anything else until you let them go.”
Put down your worries and stressors. Don’t give them your entire attention while your life is passing you by.
The Moral:
Let go of things that are out of your control.
Don’t carry your worries around with you everywhere you go, as they will do nothing but bring you down.
Put your “glass down” each night and move on from anything that is unnecessarily stressing you out.
Don’t carry this extra weight into the next day.
19. Cherish Your Struggles
The Story:
One day, a girl came upon a cocoon, and she could tell that a butterfly was trying to hatch.
She waited and watched the butterfly struggle for hours to release itself from the tiny hole. All of a sudden, the butterfly stopped moving–it seemed to be stuck.
The girl then decided to help get the butterfly out. She went home to get a pair of scissors to cut open the cocoon. The butterfly was then easily able to escape, however, its body was swollen and its wings were underdeveloped.
The girl still thought she had done the butterfly a favor as she sat there waiting for its wings to grow in order to support its body. However, that wasn’t happening.
The butterfly was unable to fly, and for the rest of its life, it could only move by crawling around with little wings and a large body.
Despite the girl’s good intentions, she didn’t understand that the restriction of the butterfly’s cocoon and the struggle the butterfly had to go through in order to escape served an important purpose.
As butterflies emerge from tight cocoons, it forces fluid from their body into their wings to prepare them to be able to fly.
The Moral:
The struggles that you face in life help you grow and get stronger.
There is often a reason behind the requirement of doing hard work and being persistent. When enduring difficult times, you will develop the necessary strength that you’ll need in the future.
Without having any struggles, you won’t grow–which means it’s very important to take on personal challenges for yourself rather than relying on other people to always help you.
20. Seeking Happiness
The Story:
There were 200 people attending a seminar on mental and physical health.
At one point, the speaker told the group they were going to do an activity. He gave each attendee one balloon and told them to write their name on it. Then, the balloons were collected and moved into a very small room.
The participants were then asked to go into the other room and were given 2 minutes to find their balloon.
It was chaos…
People were searching frantically for their balloon, pushing each other and running into one another while they grabbed a balloon, looked at it, and inevitably tossed it to the side.
At the end of the 2 minutes, no one had found the balloon that had their name on it.
Then, the speaker asked the participants to go back in the room and pick up one balloon at random, look at the name, and return it to its owner. Within minutes, everyone had been reunited with their original balloon.
The speaker then told the group, “This is what it’s like when people are frantically searching for their own happiness in life.
People push others aside to get the things that they want that they believe will bring them happiness. However, our happiness actually lies in helping other people and working together as a community.”
The Moral:
You will get your happiness if you help other people find theirs. The Dalai Lama says, “If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Helping others makes us happy because it gives us a sense of purpose.
In fact, a study from the London School of Economics found that the more you help other people, the happier you will be.
The researchers compared the variance in happiness levels of people who don’t help others on a regular basis to the happiness of weekly volunteers. They found that the participants had the same variance in happiness as those who make $75,000 – $100,000 annually vs $20,000.
Helping others brings us happiness for three reasons:
- Diversion: When you worry less about your own needs–in this case, finding your own balloon–the stress of that hunt decreases.
Taking your focus away from the fact that you can’t find your own balloon lets you divert your attention away from your own problem. The feeling of compassion replaces the feeling of need.
- Perspective: Having concern for other people helps us remember that we are all facing similar problems in life–no matter what the individual severity of the issue is.
Sometimes when we are focused on our own issues, they get put into perspective when we encounter the true suffering of others (for example, bereavement or a severe disability).
It’s easy to then realize the excess amount of attention we’ve been giving our own problems. Having compassion helps us put our problems into perspective.
- Connection: Connecting with others by helping them can bring happiness into your life.
Humans are social beings that need to have positive connections with other people in order to be happy. Connecting with other people enriches our lives and gives us a sense of fulfillment.
21. There Was Once a Boy…
Watch the Video of This Story:
The Story:
There was once a boy who was growing up in a very wealthy family.
One day, his father decided to take him on a trip to show him how others lived who were less fortunate. His father’s goal was to help his son appreciate everything that he has been given in life.
The boy and his father pulled up to a farm where a very poor family lived. They spent several days on the farm, helping the family work for their food and take care of their land.
When they left the farm, his dad asked his son if he enjoyed their trip and if he had learned anything during the time they spent with this other family.
The boy quickly replied, “It was fantastic, that family is so lucky!”
Confused, his father asked what he meant by that.
The boy said, “Well, we only have one dog, but that family has four–and they have chickens!
We have four people in our home, but they have 12! They have so many people to play with!
We have a pool in our yard, but they have a river running through their property that is endless.
We have lanterns outside so we can see at night, but they have the wide open sky and the beautiful stars to give them wonder and light.
We have a patio, but they have the entire horizon to enjoy–they have endless fields to run around in and play.
We have to go to the grocery store, but they are able to grow their own food. Our high fence protects our property and our family, but they don‘t need such a limiting structure, because their friends protect them.”
The father was speechless.
Finally, the boy added, “Thank you for showing me how poor people live, they’re so lucky.”
The Moral:
True wealth and happiness aren’t measured by material belongings.
Being around the people you love, enjoying the beautiful, natural environment, and having freedom are much more valuable.
A rich life can mean different things to different people. What are your values and priorities?
If you have whatever is important to you, you can consider yourself to be wealthy.
22. A Pound is a Pound
The Story:
There was once a farmer who, each week, sold a pound of butter to a baker.
After several weeks of buying a pound of butter from the farmer, the baker decided to weigh the butter that he was receiving to ensure it was indeed a full pound.
When the baker weighed it, he learned that the butter was under a pound, which enraged him. He felt he was being cheated and he decided to take the farmer to court.
When in court, the judge asked the farmer how he was weighing the butter.
The farmer said, “Your Honor, I am poor. I do not own an exact measuring tool. However, I do have a scale.”
The judge then asked if the farmer uses the scale to measure the butter.
The farmer said, “Your Honor, I have been buying a one-pound loaf of bread from the baker since long before he began purchasing butter from me.
Whenever the baker brings bread for me, I put it on the scale and then measure out the exact same weight in butter to give him in return. So, if the baker is not getting a pound of butter, he is also not giving a pound of bread like he promised.”
The Moral:
You get what you give. If you try to cheat others out of what you promise them, you will be cheated in return. The more honest you are, the easier it is to trust other people and not suspect they may be cheating you in some way.
When you’re honest, not only will other people trust you, but you will also feel more confident in your trust with others.
Honesty is always the best route–especially if you want others to be honest with you as well.
23. Jumping Frogs
The Story:
A group of frogs was hopping through the forest when two of them accidentally hopped into a deep pit. The other frogs stood around the pit, and, seeing how deep it was, they told the two frogs that they couldn’t help them–there was no hope.
However, fighting for their lives, the two frogs ignored the others and started to try jumping out of the pit.
The frogs at the top continued to tell the frogs in the pit to give up, as there was no way they would be able to jump out.
After trying over and over, one of the frogs listened to the others and gave up, accepting his fate and falling to his death. But the other frog continued to jump with all of his might. The crowd of frogs yelled down the pit for the frog to just stop–he wouldn’t make it.
But the frog jumped even harder and persisted until he finally got out. Upon reaching the top, the other frogs said, “We thought there was no way any frog could jump that high–couldn’t you hear us?”
The frog then signaled to the others that he was deaf, and he thought that the frogs standing around the pit were encouraging him the whole time.
The Moral:
Others’ words can greatly impact your attitude and actions. Ignore the naysayers. Only engage with those who encourage you and believe in your ability to succeed.
Furthermore, think about what you say to people before speaking so you can make sure what you’re saying is supportive. Your support (or lack thereof) could make the difference between success and failure.
24. The Ultimate Gift
The Story:
There was once a little girl who desperately needed an emergency blood transfusion to save her life.
Her only chance of surviving would be to get a transfusion from her younger brother, who had miraculously overcome the same disease she had, and therefore had antibodies in his blood that were needed to fight the illness.
The doctor explained to the little boy that it would save his sister’s life if he were to give her his blood. The boy hesitated for a moment before agreeing to give his blood if it would help his sister. At the age of 5, this was scary, but he would do anything to save his big sister’s life.
As the blood transfusion was happening, he lay next to his sister in the hospital and was overcome with happiness as he saw the color coming back to her cheeks. Then he looked up at the doctor and quietly asked, “When will I start to die?”
The boy had assumed that he was giving his life in order to save hers. The little boy’s parents were astonished over the misunderstanding that led the boy to think they were choosing his sister over him–and even more astonished that he had agreed to do so.
The doctor replied, explaining that he was not going to die, he was just going to allow his sister to live a long, healthy life alongside him.
The Moral:
This is an example of extreme courage and self-sacrificing love from a young boy that we can all learn from. The love and care that he showed for his sister relays an inspiring message about selflessness.
While we may not be faced with such a life or death decision, being selfless in general can help us connect with others, which is rewarding and fulfilling.
25. Angry Nails
The Story:
There was once a boy who became angry so frequently with his friends at school that he was constantly getting sent home.
His temper was disruptive to the class and hurtful to other students.
His father came up with a strategy to try to deter the boy from getting angry so easily. He gave his son a hammer and some nails and told him to hammer a nail into the family’s fence every time the boy got angry in the future.
The following day, the boy got angry 37 times, and had to hammer as many nails into the fence.
Over the next few weeks, the boy got tired of hammering nails into the fence and he gradually started to control his temper. Slowly, the number of nails he was hammering into the fence started to decrease.
The boy realized that it was easier to remain calm when he started to feel angry than to gather the tools, go outside, and start hammering.
Eventually, the boy stopped losing his temper altogether. His dad noticed, and told the boy to remove a nail from the fence every day that he was able to keep his temper under control.
Eventually, as the weeks went by, all of the nails had been taken out of the fence. The father and son then stood in front of the broken fence, which was completely scattered with holes.
The father turned to his son and said, “You have done well, but look at the holes in the fence. They cannot be repaired. When you get angry at other people, it leaves a scar just like the holes you see in front of you. It doesn’t matter if you say I’m sorry one hundred times, the injury is still there.”
The Moral:
Control your anger toward other people. While you may not see the damage that it does, it can leave irreparable wounds that can eventually break them.
Be kind to others and think before you let your emotions get the best of you.
26. Walking on Water
The Story:
Once there was a boy who lived with his family on a farm.
They had a beautiful dog who would go down to the pond for hours every day in the spring and summer with the boy to practice retrieving various items.
The boy wanted to prepare his dog for any scenario that may come up during duck season because he wanted his dog to be the best hunting dog in the whole county.
The boy and his dog had vigorous training sessions every day until the dog was so obedient, he wouldn’t do anything unless he was told to do so by the boy.
As duck season rolled in with the fall and winter months, the boy and his dog were eager to be at their regular spot down at the pond near their house.
Only a few minutes passed before the two heard the first group of ducks flying overhead. The boy slowly raised his gun and shot three times before killing a duck, which landed in the center of the pond.
When the boy signaled his dog to retrieve the duck, the dog charged through the duck blind and bushes toward the pond. However, instead of swimming in the water like he had practiced so many times, the dog walked on the water’s surface, retrieved the duck, and returned it to the boy.
The boy was astonished. His dog had an amazing ability to walk on water–it was like magic. The boy knew no one would ever believe this amazing thing that he had just witnessed. He had to get someone else down there to see this incredible phenomenon.
The boy went to a nearby farmer’s house and asked if he would hunt with him the next morning. The neighbor agreed, and met up with the boy the following morning at his regular spot by the pond.
The pair patiently waited for a group of ducks to fly overhead, and soon enough, they heard them coming. The boy told the neighbor to go ahead and take a shot, which the neighbor did, killing one duck.
Just as the day before, the boy signaled to his dog to fetch the duck. Miraculously, the dog walked on the water again to retrieve the duck.
The boy was bursting with pride and could hardly contain himself when he asked his neighbor, “Did you see that? What do you think?!”
The neighbor responded, “I wasn’t going to say anything, but your dog doesn’t even know how to swim.”
The boy sat in disbelief as his neighbor pointed out a potential flaw of the dog rather than recognizing the fact that what he had just done was a miracle.
The Moral:
People will often downplay others’ abilities or achievements because they’re unable to accomplish the same thing. Don’t let this bring you down. Just move on and keep working on improving yourself. Maintaining a positive mindset is a key part of being successful.
Furthermore, be conscious of instances in which you may be tempted to not give credit where it is deserved. Pointing out other people’s shortcomings does not make you a superior person.
27. It’s Not That Complicated
The Story:
There was once a very wise man living in ancient times. He was elderly and educated and held knowledge and books to the highest regard.
One day while on a walk, he realized that his shoes were really starting to wear out. Because he spent a lot of time walking on a daily basis, he knew he had to find the best shoes to support and protect his feet.
But, back then, this wasn’t such an easy task, as he couldn’t jump online to do some research and have shoes delivered to his door.
The man didn’t want to make things worse by purchasing the wrong shoes and having inadequate protection, which would lead to injuries and the inability to leave his home and walk to find new books to read.
The man gathered all of the books he could that were written by only those that he admired the most to search for the answer to his question, “What do I do if my shoes have fallen apart?”
He read through several books for many hours before finding out that he had no choice but to go buy a new pair of shoes. He then spent a lot of time reading about how to know if a pair of shoes fits properly.
Once he was satisfied with the answers he found, he was proud of himself for doing the research and he felt confident in his ability to buy a high-quality replacement for his old shoes.
He figured if he hadn’t done his research, he probably would have gone barefoot for the rest of his life, as he had no one to tell him how to fix his shoes.
Following the books’ instructions, the man took a stick and measured his foot with it. He then went to the market and finally came upon a pair of shoes that he liked. However, he realized he had left the stick back at home, which was far away from the shop.
By the time the man returned to the market, the shop was closed. And, by that point, his shoes were completely split, so he had to return home barefoot.
The next morning, he walked back to the market with bare feet, but the shoes that he had chosen the day before had been sold. The wise man explained what had happened to the shopkeeper, who reacted with a sense of surprise, asking, “Why didn’t you buy the shoes yesterday?”
The wise man replied, “Because I forgot the stick that I had used to measure my feet back home. And anyone who knows anything about shoes knows that you have to have the correct measurements of your feet before you can buy shoes. I didn’t want to buy the wrong size, and I was following the normal instructions.”
Even more confused, the shopkeeper asked, “But your foot was with you, why didn’t you just try the shoes on?”
The wise man was equally confused in return and responded, “All the books say shoes must be bought with the exact same measurements of the shoes you already own.”
Laughing, the shop owner replied “Oh, no! You don’t need the advice from books to buy shoes. You just need to have your feet, some money, and some common sense to not complicate things.”
The Moral:
Sometimes you need to take action without overthinking things. Knowledge often comes in handy, but in some circumstances, if you lack experience or common sense, your knowledge will only get you so far. In fact, it could make things seem a lot more complicated than they actually are.
If you’re facing an issue, don’t forget to use your reasoning skills in addition to anything you’ve learned in a formal learning environment.
28. Don’t Hold Back
The Story:
There was once a company whose CEO was very strict and often disciplined the workers for their mistakes or perceived lack of progress.
One day, as the employees came into work, they saw a sign on the door that read, “Yesterday, the person who has been holding you back from succeeding in this company passed away. Please gather for a funeral service in the assembly room.”
While the employees were saddened for the family of their CEO, they were also intrigued at the prospect of being able to now move up within the company and become more successful.”
Upon entering the assembly room, many employees were surprised to see the CEO was, in fact, present. They wondered among themselves, “If it wasn’t him who was holding us back from being successful, who was it? Who has died?”
One by one, the employees approached the coffin, and upon looking inside, each was quite surprised. They didn’t understand what they saw.
In the coffin, there was simply a mirror. So when each employee looked in to find out who had been “holding them back from being successful” everyone saw themselves. Next to the mirror, there was a sign that read:
The only person who is able to limit your growth is you.
You are the only person who can influence your success. Your life changes when you break through your limiting beliefs and realize that you’re in control of your life.
The most influential relationship you can have is the relationship you have with yourself.
Now you know who has been holding you back from living up to your true potential. Are you going to keep allowing that person to hold you back?
The Moral:
You can’t blame anyone else if you’re not living up to your potential. You can’t let other people get you down about mistakes you make or their negative perception of your efforts.
You have to take personal responsibility for your work–both the good and the bad–and be proactive about making any necessary adjustments.
29. The Chef’s Daughter
The Story:
Once there was a girl who was complaining to her dad that her life was so hard and that she didn’t know how she would get through all of her struggles. She was tired, and she felt like as soon as one problem was solved, another would arise.
Being a chef, the girl’s father took her into his kitchen. He boiled three pots of water that were equal in size. He placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in another, and ground coffee beans in the final pot.
He let the pots sit and boil for a while, not saying anything to his daughter.
He turned the burners off after twenty minutes and removed the potatoes from the pot and put them in a bowl. He did the same with the boiled eggs. He then used a ladle to scoop out the boiled coffee and poured it in a mug. He asked his daughter, “What do you see?”
She responded, “Potatoes, eggs, and coffee.”
Her father told her to take a closer look and touch the potatoes. After doing so, she noticed they were soft. Her father then told her to break open an egg. She acknowledged the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he told her to take a sip of the coffee. It was rich and delicious.
After asking her father what all of this meant, he explained that each of the three food items had just undergone the exact same hardship–twenty minutes inside of boiling water.
However, each item had a different reaction.
The potato went into the water as a strong, hard item, but after being boiled, it turned soft and weak.
The egg was fragile when it entered the water, with a thin outer shell protecting a liquid interior. However, after it was left to boil, the inside of the egg became firm and strong.
Finally, the ground coffee beans were different. Upon being exposed to boiling water, they changed the water to create something new altogether.
He then asked his daughter, “Which are you? When you face adversity, do you respond by becoming soft and weak? Do you build strength? Or do you change the situation?”
The Moral:
Life is full of ups and downs, wins and losses, and big shifts in momentum, and adversity is a big part of this experience.
And while many of us would rather not face adversity, it doesn’t have to always be a negative thing. In fact, handling adversity can be a positive experience that can lead to personal development.
You choose how you respond to adversity, whether you let it break you down or you stand up in the face of it and learn from it. In many instances, facing adversity gives you a chance to learn important lessons that can help you grow as a person.
When facing adversity, it’s important to recognize your freedom to choose how you respond. You can respond in a way that ultimately limits you, or you can choose to have a more productive response that could potentially open windows of opportunity that we didn’t know existed.
30. Cleaning Turtles
The Story:
There was once a man who walked his dog every Sunday morning around a lake near his house. Week after week, he saw the same elderly woman sitting at the edge of the water with a small metal cage next to her.
The man’s curiosity finally got the best of him and he approached the woman one day. He noticed that the cage was actually a small trap and she had three small turtles in it. In her lap, there was a fourth turtle that she was carefully wiping down with a sponge.
The man greeted her and said, “If you don’t mind my asking, what do you do with these turtles every week?”
She smiled and explained to him that she was cleaning their shells because any algae or scum that builds up on a turtle’s shell reduces its ability to absorb heat and slows down their swimming. It can also corrode their shell and weaken it over time.
The man was impressed as the woman continued, “I do this every Sunday morning to help the turtles.”
“But don’t most turtles live their entire lives with algae on their shells?” the man asked.
The woman agreed that was true.
He replied, “Well then, you’re kind to do this, but are you really making a difference if most turtles don’t have people around to clean their shells?”
The woman laughed as she looked down at the small turtle on her lap. “Young man, if this little turtle could talk, he would say I’m making all the difference in the world.'”
The Moral:
“To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.” — Dr. Seuss
Just because you may not be able to change the world or help everyone, you can still make a huge difference in one person’s life by offering them any help that you can. Don’t choose to not do anything because you can’t do everything.
The actions of one person can make a world of difference to someone else. When you see someone in need, you may never know how much of a difference your help can make in their life.
31. Puppy Love
The Story:
A pet shop owner got a new litter of puppies and was ready to sell them to their “forever” families. A young girl walked by the shop and noticed a sign saying, “Puppies for Sale” and of course was very eager to go inside.
She asked the owner, “How much do the puppies cost?” The owner replied, “They are all around $50.”
The girl emptied her pocket change and told the store owner that she only had about $2, but she still wanted to look at them.
The shop owner whistled for the dogs, who came running down the hall of his shop. Five tiny furballs, followed by one, limping behind the rest. The girl immediately singled out the lagging puppy and asked the store owner what was wrong with him.
The owner explained that the puppy was born with a deformity– he was missing a hip socket. He would walk with a limp for the rest of his life.
The girl got excited, saying, “I want that puppy!”
The owner replied, “You don’t want to buy that puppy. If you really want him, you can have him for free.”
The girl became upset. She looked at the owner and said, “I don’t want to have him for free. That puppy is worth just as much as the others. I’ll give you the change I have now and a dollar a month until I have paid for the puppy entirely.”
The owner continued, “This dog is never going to be able to run and play like all of the other dogs, I think you’re going to regret this decision.”
To his surprise, the girl reached down and rolled up her pant leg to reveal a crippled leg that was supported by a large metal brace. She looked up at the owner and softly replied, ‘Well, I’m not much of a runner, and this puppy needs someone who understands.”
The Moral:
Don’t make assumptions about other people’s wants, needs, or abilities. Every one of us has our own weaknesses, whether it’s physical or mental.
The trick is to not allow your weaknesses to slow you down, and instead, find others in the world who can support you. Find and surround yourself with people who challenge you to reach your potential.
32. The Gift of the Magi
The Story:
There was once a young couple who was struggling to make ends meet during the holiday season. But despite their financial troubles, they both wanted to buy a special gift for the other.
After crying about their situation, the wife stood by the window and looked out with no interest. The next day was Christmas, and she had only $10 to buy her husband a gift. She had been saving as much as she could, but bills always cost more than expected.
But there was one thing that the wife had that would be valuable enough to sell: her long, flowy hair. She contacted a wig maker and asked them how much money she could earn if she gave them her hair. They said $100.
With that money, she quickly went from shop to shop looking for the perfect gift. And then she found it: a gold watch chain for his beloved gold watch that had been passed down for generations.
With 82 cents in change, she ran home, excited about the gift she had gotten for her husband.
While waiting for him to get home from work, the wife became nervous that he would no longer find her attractive with her new, short hair.
When he walked in, he stopped inside the door. He was as quiet and his eyes looked strangely at his wife with an expression in them that she did not understand.
She said to him, “Honey, don’t look at me like that. I sold my hair. I couldn’t live through Christmas without giving you a gift. My hair will grow back. Let’s be happy. You don’t know what a beautiful gift I got for you.”
He put his arms around her. And then from inside his coat, he took something out that was tied in paper and threw it on the table. “Listen,” he said. “Nothing like a haircut could make me love you any less. But open this.”
There lay two beautiful combs that she had seen in a shop window and loved for a long time. Combs with jewels–perfect for her beautiful hair. She knew they cost too much for them to afford. And now they were hers, but her hair was gone. She held them to her heart and said, “My hair grows so fast!”
And then she jumped up and held her gift out to him in her open hands. The gold chain sparkled. “Isn’t it perfect? I hunted all over town to find it. You’ll have to look at your watch a hundred times a day now. Give me your watch. I want to see how they look together.”
He sat down and smiled. “Honey,” he said, “I sold the watch to get the money to buy the combs. And now I think we should have our dinner.”
The Moral:
Appreciate what others do for you. The magi were wise men who were the first to give Christmas gifts. In this story, each person sold the most valuable thing they owned in order to buy a gift for the other.
This story shows the true meaning of gift-giving, which is about the thought and love behind the gift rather than its material value. The couple’s gifts to each other are ultimately meaningless in terms of their practical use, but their representation of love and sacrifice proves to be invaluable for both of them.
33. Everyone Has a Story
The Story:
There was once a 24 year old boy on a train with his father. Looking out from the train’s window, he shouted…
“Dad, look, the trees are going behind us!”
His dad smiled. The young man caught a couple’s attention sitting nearby, who looked at his childish behavior with pity. Suddenly, the boy exclaimed again…
“Dad, look, the clouds are running with us!”
Annoyed by the commotion, the couple looked at the old man and said, “You should take your son to see a good doctor.”
The old man smiled at the couple and said, “I just did. We are going home from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, and he just got his eyes today.”
The Moral:
Everyone on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them. The truth might surprise you.
34. A Dish of Ice Cream
The Story:
In the days when ice cream sundaes cost much less, a 10 year old boy entered an ice cream shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.
“How much is an ice cream sundae?”
“50 cents,” replied the waitress.
The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket that had several coins in it.
“How much is a dish of plain ice cream?” he asked.
“35 cents,” she replied impatiently.
The little boy again counted the coins. “I’ll have a plain ice cream,” he said.
The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.
When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then was surprised at what she saw.
There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were 15 cents – her tip. The boy had enough money for a sundae, but he had ordered plain ice cream so he could leave her a tip.
The Moral:
In a world that constantly tells us we need to have more, it’s important to be reminded of the power of a person’s generosity.
35. A Very Special Bank Account
The Story:
Let’s say you had a bank account that deposited $86,400 every morning. However, the account carries over no balance from day to day, doesn’t allow you to keep a cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you didn’t use during the day. What would you do?
Probably draw out every dollar every day!
We all have this bank–it is called Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off whatever time you have failed to use wisely. It carries over no balance from day to day.
It allows no overdraft so you can’t borrow against yourself or use more time than you have. Each day, the account starts fresh. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, it’s your loss and you can’t appeal to get it back.
The Moral:
There is no such thing as borrowing time. You can’t take a loan out on your time or against someone else’s. The time you have is the time you have. Just as it is with money, time management is yours to decide how you spend it.
It is rarely the case of us not having the time to do things, but the case of whether we want to do them and where they fall in our priorities.
36. Hunting Monkeys
The Story:
A man once asked a child, “Do you know how hunters used to trap monkeys?”
“Instead of chasing them up a tree or shooting arrows at them, they’d lay a heavy glass jar with a narrow neck on the ground with the monkeys’ favorite food inside.
Then they would hide a short distance away, waiting for the unsuspecting monkey to approach.
When it did, the monkey would reach inside and try to grab the snack. But the narrow neck of the jar would prevent the monkey from being able to get its hand out!
It would pull and pull, but it was stuck! There was no way to get its hand out of the jar without letting go of the food.
But instead of letting go, the monkey would keep trying, refusing to drop its dinner.
It was at this moment that the hunters would approach the monkey to catch it.”
“Don’t be like that monkey,” the man warned the child. “In life, to keep fighting another day and grow, you have to know when to quit, when to move on, and when to let go of whatever’s holding you back.”
The Moral:
Sometimes you have to let go and give up what you have now in order to receive something better in the future. Don’t let stubbornness get in your way to success.
37. The Fisherman and the Businessman
The Story:
Once there was a businessman sitting on the beach in an Italian village.
As he sat and relaxed from his day, he saw a fisherman rowing a small boat full of fish back into the harbor.
Impressed, the businessman yelled out to the fisherman, “How long does it take you to catch so many fish?” To which the fisherman replied “Oh, not so long.”
Confused, the businessman asked, “Then why don’t you fish for longer to catch even more?”
“Because this is enough to feed my family and even offer some to my neighbors,” the fisherman replied.
“So what do you do for the rest of your day?” Asked the businessman.
The fisherman said, “Well, I’ve usually caught my fish by late morning, so I go home, kiss my wife, and play with my kids. In the afternoon, I take a nap and read. In the evening, I go to the village to have a drink with my friends, play guitar, sing, and dance into the night!”
Being an entrepreneur, the businessman offered a suggestion.
“I have a PhD in business! I can help you become much more successful. From now on, you should spend longer at sea and catch as many fish as possible. When you’ve saved enough money, buy a bigger boat to catch even more fish.
From there, you’ll soon be able to buy more boats, set up your own company, build a production plant that will package the fish and control distribution, and move to the city to control your other branches.”
To this, the fisherman asks, “And after that?”
The businessman laughs, “After that, you’ll be able to live like a king, you will be rich!”
“And after that?” Asks the fisherman again.
“Well, then you can retire, move to a house by the ocean, wake up early in the morning to go fishing, then return home to play with your kids, kiss your wife, take a nap in the afternoon and join your friends in the village to drink, play guitar and dance into the night!”
Puzzled, the fisherman replies, “But isn’t that what I’m doing already?”
The Moral:
Be happy with the things that you have. Will having more in life bring you more happiness? Stress is often a choice. There’s joy and peace in simplicity.
Final Thoughts on Inspirational Stories
Some of these inspirational stories of success and hope left me astounded for a minute because of their strong impact, and I hope they had the same impact on you. They truly do make you think, and the images in your mind that they create are memorable.
Share these stories with friends who you think could benefit from the morals that they offer.
I’m hoping that from now on, when you’re tempted to cut corners, restrict your thinking to social conformity, remain comfortable with mediocrity, or anything else that may be holding you back in life, you will come back to these stories for a bit of a motivational boost.
And if you're looking for more inspiration, be sure to check out these other roundups:
- 15 Inspirational Poems About Life You Must Read Today
- 13 Famous Stories About Success & Overcoming Challenges
- 35 Best Songs About Success and Achievement
Finally, if you want to take your goal-setting efforts to the next level, check out this FREE printable worksheet and a step-by-step process that will help you set effective SMART goals.
Connie Mathers is a professional editor and freelance writer. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and a Master’s Degree in Social Work. When she is not writing, Connie is either spending time with her daughter and two dogs, running, or working at her full-time job as a social worker in Richmond, VA.
