Stop Worrying about the Missing Goat

Are you unhappy because you feel a lack of satisfaction in spite of having everything in life? We all tend to have such feelings at one time or another. I came across this beautiful story recently that illustrates how to deal with it effectively.

It all started one lazy Sunday afternoon in a small town. Two school-going friends had a crazy idea. They rounded up three goats from the neighborhood and painted the number 1, 2 and 4 on their sides. That night they let the goats loose inside their school building.

The next morning, when the authorities entered the school, they could smell something was wrong. They soon saw goat droppings on the stairs and near the entrance and realized that some goats had entered the building. A search was immediately launched and very soon, the three goats were found. But the authorities were worried, where was goat no. 3?

They spent the rest of the day looking for goat no.3.

Gradually there was panic and frustration. The school declared classes off for the students for the rest of the day. The teachers, helpers, guards, canteen staffs, boys were all busy looking for the goat no. 3, which, of course, was never found.

Simply because it did not exist.

When we have everything and still feel a lack of satisfaction, we are actually looking for the elusive, missing, non-existent goat no.3. Whatever be the reason of our dissatisfaction - relationship, job, materialistic achievement, money, etc., an absence of something becomes more important for us than the presence of many other things, just like the story above.

So, remind yourself to stop worrying about goat no.3 and start enjoying a wholesome, fulfilling life today.