One day an expert in motivation was presenting at a conference of a group of professionals.In order to make a point clear to them, he used an example which the professionals would never forget.Standing facing an audience of very successful people he said, 'I'd like to give you a little test'.

From underneath a table he pulled out a glass jar with a narrow brim and he put it on the table in front of him. Then he took a dozen rocks from a container and began to drop them one by one into the jar.

When the jar was full to the brim and no more stones would go in, he asked the audience:

Is the jar full?

All the participants said 'yes'.

Then he said, 'are you sure?'

From under the table he took out a fistful of very small stones. He put a few of the stones into the jar and then he shook the jar so that the small stones fell into the spaces between the larger rocks.

When he had done this he again asked, 'is this jar full?'

This time the audience had guessed what was coming and one of the participants said loudly, 'probably not'.

'Very good' the said the presenter. From underneath the table, he took out a bottle full of sand and began to pour it into the jar. The sand filled the spaces between the small and large stones.

Once again he asked the group, 'is this jar full'.

This time several people yelled out, 'no!'.

Once again the presenter said, 'very good'. Then he took a jug full of water and poured it into the jar filled with stones until it was full to the brim. When he had finished he asked the audience, 'what is the point of this small demonstration?'

One of the audience raised his hand and said, 'the point is, it doesn't matter how full your timetable is, because if you really want to you can always add more things.'

'Not necessarily' the presenter replied. 'That is not the point I am making to you. The truth is that the demonstration teaches us the following: If you do not place the big stones first, you cannot put them in another time.

What are the stones in your life? A project you would like to undertake? Time with your family? Your faith, your education, your finances? Something you would like to support? Teaching what you know to others?.

Remember to put these stones in first or you won't find a place for them later. Therefore either tonight, or tomorrow on waking up when you remember this little anecdote, ask yourself, what are the big stones in your life and run and put them in your jar first'.



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PHRASE OF THE WEEK

'Don't hurt yourself and don't hurt others. Take care of yourself so that you can take care of others. Use everything for your upliftment, learning and growth.'

"These rules might appear simplistic to some. But think of how you could change your life if you lived according to them and if you really were to live by them. It may appear silly, but if you apply these rules to everything you do you are guaranteed a full life. Your spirit will move and you will live with a higher level of consciousness".   

(John Roger)