“What you focus on, grows…” — Robin Sharma
You have problems — a lot of them.
Some minor, some major.
You might be struggling with your life direction, having trouble with your relationships, or even struggling to put food on the table for your family.
Life is hard when your chips are down and you struggle to find a way out.
But focusing on the doom and gloom makes your problems insurmountable. The bigger and darker the cloud, the more overwhelmed you feel — and the more likely you are to unravel completely.
When you can implement the right attitude and mindset, your mind becomes like a clear day. You know what needs to be done, and you have the clarity to execute.
Building the ability to snap out of your negative, problem-focused mindset should be your number 1 priority.
Because a good life is not about having no problems but being able to handle a lot of them and stay positive.
The Rabbit and the Falling Fruit
an Indian folktale
One day, a rabbit was resting under a tree when a fruit fell with a thud. Startled, the rabbit thought, “The world is ending!” and ran through the forest shouting, “The sky is falling!”
Other animals joined the panic until they reached a wise lion. The lion asked the rabbit what happened and calmly investigated. He found the fallen fruit and said, “Here is your sky. It was only a fruit.”
The animals realized their fear had grown out of proportion and returned to their lives, wiser and calmer.
Why did the rabbit panic when the fruit fell from the tree?
A trivial thing that happens frequently, but it was his mind that projected the event forward into a dire scenario.
I love this story because it reminds me of myself, and everyone I know.
I spent some time with my sisters this Christmas. They told me about their life direction challenges, their relationship problems and their challenges with understanding themselves.
Now, I don’t scoff or belittle them for having these problems — they are significant and valid and I had them too. But the reason it’s so interesting, and relieving for me is because I went through the exact same problems, and in hindsight, they are so small and easy to overcome.
They are not life-threatening or dire.
Yet they cloud the minds of my sisters, just as they clouded my mind (and continue to cloud my mind now).
When you look and see the problems of others, they seem so small.
How can you possibly be worried about homework, when I have to worry about paying my bills?
But if you stop and think for a moment, you will realise that someone is saying something similar about you:
How can you possibly be worried about paying your bills when I have to worry about keeping 3 children happy and healthy?
And just like that, every problem becomes teeny-tiny in hindsight, or when you encounter a bigger problem.
The lesson?
Realise that every single problem and challenge you face in your life will one day seem insignificant to you. And that the life you’re living right now is greater than most of the lives lived before you.
Hot water literally on tap. You can walk in and just purchase food anywhere. You’re safe. You have a roof. Not to mention technology, education and all the other blessings we have.
So to clear your mind, have better judgement and better decision making, you want to be able to view your problem like it’s not that serious, because one day when you look back, it won’t be.
You have to ‘time-travel’ in a sense and look back at your problems as if you’ve already overcome them. You have to zoom out and look at them like they’re small, because they are.
Sincerely,
eren
Follow me on Substack, Instagram and LinkedIn for short bursts of motivation and peace, and to follow along on my journey of creating the world’s best in-person mindset workshop.

This is a beautiful story Eren, so so true, we jump to assume the worst in an instance and this is a perfect example of that.
Looking back and thinking about my current life, definitely very very grateful but yes in those moments..just like the rabbit I have panicked too.
Reading and connecting with others really gives us some perspective, helps us zoom out.
Thank you for sharing 😊
Simple and powerful. Problems will always be with us, each replacing a resolved issue. We just need to learn how to handle them without loosing control. Perception is everything. Thank you.