This story about a man, his family, a rabbi and a goat caught my attention in Judith Lasater’s foundational and transformational book “Living Your Yoga”.
“A villager lived in a tiny house with his wife, 6 children, mother-in-law, a cow, and some chickens. It was making him crazy. So he went to the village rabbi and asked for help. The rabbi said he could solve the problem: he told the man to buy a goat. Thrilled, the man immediately went out and bought a goat. Now he had a wife, 6 children, a mother-in-law, a cow, some chickens, and a goat.
The house was even more chaotic than before. The villager went back to the rabbi and told of the even crazier chaos. Again, the rabbi said he could solve the problem. “Sell the goat.” The man went immediately and sold the goat. Suddenly, all he had was a wife, 6 children, a mother-in-law, a cow, and some chickens.Things were positively peaceful without that goat.”
When we can step back and see things from a different perspective, it brings new clarity and understanding.
“Your life is as it is. How you feel about your life is up to you”
So much of what we call wisdom is really about getting clear and seeing things from a different perspective. We all tend to get hooked into our thinking and believe it to be the truth. But our thoughts are not the truth, they are just thoughts… and we have the ability to change them.
Take a moment and reflect on the following questions:
How ready and willing am I to see an other person’s perspective or to take a bigger view of a situation, rather than just my own?
How aware am I of the ways that I am stuck in a rut or am living on auto pilot?
It takes time to reflect on this and bring new awareness of our outer and inner worlds.
We can also start to bring new awareness by considering what might be causing frustration or struggle right now.
Am I attached to seeing this in only one way, or are there other perspectives to be explored?
What am I grateful for here?
What do I need to let go of?
Perhaps there is a goat to sell.
Find Your Middle Ground 
Excellent share, wonderful reminder, thank you Val! I’m working on the what I need to let go of – but always working on not being in a rut and opening up my view, my perspective!
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I always love your open mind and heart Kate! Thank you for stopping by 💛
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Does it work if I merely imagine myself living with a goat, and then imagine myself not living with one? You see, the thing is Val, I’m a bit strapped for cash at the moment, and what with the price of goats ‘n all. 😉
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Maybe the village rabbi will have the answer Hariod ….
Imagining is even better … no smell or clean up!
😄
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Great story Val and its true, we often don’t know what we have until we lose something. Whether its a goat or a shift in belief, letting go always gives us more space in ourselves and life.
Hariod I can lend you some money to buy that goat!! Ha
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You figure out the goat exchange with Hariod.
I don’t want to be a goat between here.
Thanks for sharing your insight Karen. Its such a valuable lesson 🙂
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🙂 🙂
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“Goat between” XD
Oh, and thanks for the offer of the cash loan Karen; I’d goat to the bank myself and pick up the bucks, 😉 , only I was thinking of having a does 😉 this afternoon – ah, I’m on the horns 😉 of a dilemma.
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Too funny! 🙂 🙂
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Perspective…great story!
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Glad you enjoyed it Carrie 🙂
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A change in perspective does wonders ~ especially when we get rid of the goat and make room for what matters. Thanks, Val.
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Nancy, love it .. and matter space for what matters 🙂
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😀
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Thanks for adding your chuckle Nomzi!
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I’d keep the goat! But actually we had one when my son was small and the neighbors complained about the exuberant maa-ing. She went to live with a friend with more land. But milking her twice a day was an amazing experience!
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