Expectation or Prediction? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

***nandm*** · 01-21-2008, 12:20 PM

There's a wonderful story in The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millan that illustrates how our attitudes shape our experiences. It goes soemthing like this:

A wise old man is resting at the side of the road. A traveler approaches and asks him if he knows what the people are like in the town up ahead. The wise old man asks him, "What were the people like in the town you just came from?" to which the traveler replies, "Oh, they were rude and nasty and I couldn't trust anyone." And so the wise old man tells him that the people in the town up ahead are exactly the same. And the traveler trudges off. A little while later, another traveler stops to ask the wise old man if he knows what the people are like up in the town ahead. The wise man responds with the same question he posed to the first traveler, to which the second traveler replies, "Oh, they are the most wonderful and loving and caring people a man could ever hope to know." And so the wise old man tells the traveler that the people in the town up ahead are all that and more.

NOMOMERLOTMAMMA · 01-21-2008, 01:00 PM

Judith, again, another post that I can relate too.

I was recently in a social situation where the "old" Karen would've made assumptions based on a person's chosen profession and not on the person herself. Let's just say this profession is not the norm, and I would've reacted to that, and not to the person, who is a wonderful, frank, down to earth and caring woman.

I'm glad that I am changing!

Karen

Rusty Zipper · 01-21-2008, 07:12 PM

nand, eccellent!

Fluttering · 01-21-2008, 07:25 PM

Wow!! Thank you

justjo · 01-22-2008, 12:46 AM

Im coming in here more often. This is great and it made me smile. So true, we can believe what ever we tell ourselves hey?

**Ann** · 01-22-2008, 01:37 AM

I heard that story several years ago and I can tell you it has made a difference in my life. When I find myself forming an "attitude" I often think of that story and know things will go pretty much however I set my mind that they will go.

Thanks for bringing it here, it's a great reminder and I'll just bet most here who have read it will carry it around with them like I did.

Hugs

01-21-2008, 12:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
*nandm* Life the gift of recovery! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Home is where the heart is Posts: 6,580	Expectation or Prediction? There's a wonderful story in The Way of the Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millan that illustrates how our attitudes shape our experiences. It goes soemthing like this: A wise old man is resting at the side of the road. A traveler approaches and asks him if he knows what the people are like in the town up ahead. The wise old man asks him, "What were the people like in the town you just came from?" to which the traveler replies, "Oh, they were rude and nasty and I couldn't trust anyone." And so the wise old man tells him that the people in the town up ahead are exactly the same. And the traveler trudges off. A little while later, another traveler stops to ask the wise old man if he knows what the people are like up in the town ahead. The wise man responds with the same question he posed to the first traveler, to which the second traveler replies, "Oh, they are the most wonderful and loving and caring people a man could ever hope to know." And so the wise old man tells the traveler that the people in the town up ahead are all that and more. __________________ NOTE: All BB quotes are from the 1st Edition of the Big Book Depression is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of being too strong for too long.

01-21-2008, 01:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
NOMOMERLOTMAMMA No more merlot, more mamma Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hills, Ct Posts: 2,131 Blog Entries: 36	Judith, again, another post that I can relate too. I was recently in a social situation where the "old" Karen would've made assumptions based on a person's chosen profession and not on the person herself. Let's just say this profession is not the norm, and I would've reacted to that, and not to the person, who is a wonderful, frank, down to earth and caring woman. I'm glad that I am changing! Karen __________________ But I always think that the best way to know God is to love many things. ~Vincent van Gogh

01-21-2008, 07:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Rusty Zipper Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: my room in ct. Posts: 34,860	nand, eccellent! __________________ *Rule 62*

01-21-2008, 07:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Fluttering Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fluttering About Posts: 3,408	Wow!! Thank you __________________

01-22-2008, 01:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ann Forum Leader Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: By The Lake Posts: 25,227	I heard that story several years ago and I can tell you it has made a difference in my life. When I find myself forming an "attitude" I often think of that story and know things will go pretty much however I set my mind that they will go. Thanks for bringing it here, it's a great reminder and I'll just bet most here who have read it will carry it around with them like I did. Hugs __________________ “Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” ~Winnie the Pooh~

01-22-2008, 12:46 AM	#5 (permalink)
justjo Sunny Side Up Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sth Australia Posts: 3,787	Im coming in here more often. This is great and it made me smile. So true, we can believe what ever we tell ourselves hey?

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