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A man is on a journey. The path that he must take is sometimes steep and has rough stones over which he has to walk barefoot. The stones make his feet ache but he knows that he has many miles to go before he can rest. To top it all he comes across an old tree that has fallen right into his path. The tree is rotten in places and the bark comes away as he reaches out to touch it. He looks to the left and to the right of the path and sees a river. He cannot swim and knows that he must try to climb over the rotten tree and continue on his journey over the rough stones, or does he?

How you interpret this story and what you decide that the man should do may give you an indication as to whether you are thinking positively and getting the best out of life or not. You see the man has several choices.

He can struggle to climb over the tree and then carry on with his journey. His feet would eventually become cut and grazed and he would limp on in agony and frustration, believing that he lives in a cruel and ugly world.

Or he could craft some foot-wear out of the bark and use ivy to bind the bark to his feet so that his journey was more comfortable and less painful.

Or he may manage to craft a raft out of the tree and using a branch to push to the rivers bottom as he went along he could propel himself in the right direction. He may then see the world in a new light as he begins to enjoy his journey and has time to witness the beauty of the birds and nature around him.

Just as the man in the story has choices each of us does too. Life will sometimes throw circumstances at us which we need to make a choice in how to deal with. We may choose to take the long and difficult route that leaves us feeling unhappy or we may choose the positive route and make the best of life and enjoy the ride.

One of the main times in life when we need to make use of a positive attitude is when great changes occur. As humans, we often resist change instead of looking on the bright side of what newer situations can offer us. By refusing to look forward and always keeping our eyes on the path that is now behind us we remain negative, often going over and over in our minds where we have already been.

By looking ahead, and by concentrating on where we are, we can begin to pick out the diamonds from the rough in life, instead of concentrating on that which is negative and has little value for us.

Learn more about this author, Bridget Webber.
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