The Frog at the Bottom of the Well
Jing Di Zhi Wa, or The Frog at the Bottom of the Well, is one of my favorite Chinese fables. It is from Zhuang Zi, an ancient book of anecdotes, allegories, and parables that demonstrate the core principles of Taoist philosophy. My own interpretation of the story is not an exact translation from the original, but the message is the same. You may have heard me speak of the frog in the past, but I think it is well worth repeating – finding our place in life and searching for human happiness is a worthy endeavor for us all.
Once upon a time, there lived a young frog at the bottom of a well. He had been there all his life and was very comfortable with his surroundings. As he looked up, he enjoyed his very small view of the sky. One day, his cousin came to visit from the outside world and asked the young frog why he had never ventured out of the well. The young frog replied, “I don’t need to. I am quite comfortable here.” Besides, the sky is so very small, there is nothing out there for me to see.” His cousin pleaded with him for a long time and finally convinced the young frog to hop up out of the well.
As he reached the midway point toward the top of the well, the young frog looked up and saw the sky broaden. He became fascinated and at the same time nervous and hesitant. His cousin continued to plead with him until he finally reached the top of the well. He was speechless as he gazed upon the vast sky in all directions. He could see trees and meadows and a beautiful pond. “I never knew how much beauty existed outside of the well,” he exclaimed.
It is easy for us to be very comfortable at certain junctions in our lives – to a point where our complacency and comfort can paralyze us and prevent us from moving forward. We set up a place for ourselves in which we remain so we never need to face the uncertainty of the world beyond what we know. Fear of moving forward stifles our growth, causes us to lose opportunities, and miss out on experiences that would broaden our lives.
The place where you are most comfortable now may be the place that creates the most pain for you in the future. Be curious and courageous. Do not fear new things based solely on their novelty. Do not fear change. Embrace them with open arms and enjoy the interplay of Yin and Yang in your life.