There was once a stone cutter, who was dissatisfied with himself and with his position in life.
One day, he passed a wealthy merchant’s house. Through the open gateway, he saw many fine possessions and important visitors. “How powerful that merchant must be!” thought the stone cutter. He became very envious and wished that he could be like the merchant.
To his great surprise, he suddenly became the merchant, enjoying more luxuries and power than he had ever imagined, but envied and detested by those less wealthy than himself. Soon a high official passed by, carried in a sedan chair, accompanied by attendants and escorted by soldiers beating gongs. Everyone, no matter how wealthy, had to bow low before the procession. “How powerful that official is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a high official!”
Then he became the high official, carried everywhere in his embroidered sedan chair, feared and hated by the people all around. It was a hot summer day, so the official felt very uncomfortable in the sticky sedan chair. He looked up at the sun. It shone proudly in the sky, unaffected by his presence. “How powerful the sun is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be the sun!”
Then he became the sun, shining fiercely down on everyone, scorching the fields, cursed by the farmers and labourers. But a huge black cloud moved between him and the earth so that his light could no longer shine on everything below. “How powerful that storm cloud is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a cloud!”
Then he became the cloud, flooding the fields and villages, shouted at by everyone. But soon he found that he was being pushed away by some great force, and realised that it was the wind. “How powerful it is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be the wind!”
Then he became the wind, blowing tiles off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees, feared and hated by all below him. But after a while, he ran up against something that would not move, no matter how forcefully he blew against it—a huge, towering rock. “How powerful that rock is!” he thought. “I wish that I could be a rock!”
Then he became the rock, more powerful than anything else on earth. But as he stood there, he heard the sound of a hammer pounding a chisel into the hard surface, and felt himself being changed. “What could be more powerful than I, the rock?” he thought.
He looked down and saw far below him the figure of a stone cutter.

Aren’t we all supremely lucky to have unique roles in this world? Then why is it that most humans spend their time comparing themselves to others? Comparison is like disregarding and disrespecting the gifts given to us by the almighty or the source, whichever you prefer. And in the absence of our attention and lack of care, they corrode over time.
But when gifts are realised and used with awareness and consistent work, genius takes birth. That’s what all great beings who have contributed to this world have done. Take for example, Leornado da Vinci, Mother Teresa, Charles Dickens, Einstein, Abraham Lincoln and so many other great personalities who recognised their gifts and kept nurturing them with hard work, dedication, and improvisation.
Would they be half as successful or useful to society if they had assumed each other’s role, or just ran after survival gratifications? I don’t think so.
Swamiji said something so touching and so deep in his book;If truth be told, about maintaining his identity even though he was surrendered to his guru. That’s the finest balance one can aspire for. As it’s so easy to lose ourselves in the presence of something greater than us at that moment. What really mattered to him was his recognition of his deepest quest and dedication to achieve it(in my limited understanding of the narration:). That in itself is purity of life purpose, making the two worlds meet of one’s inclinations and gifts with one’s dedication and work towards it. Once this happens, no-one can stop one from being a signature on the map of this world in one’s a unique way.
Once a samurai visited a monk in the forest. Seeing the monk deep in meditation, he started to have self-doubts about himself and his mind started beating him up with comparing himself to the monk. He thought that his work as a samurai was nothing compared to this monk’s wisdom and peace. When monk opened his eyes, he asked the samurai as to why he looked so distraught? Samurai honestly told him about his self-doubt that even though he defended the weak and helped save many lives, he feels inferior to the monk and asked the monk to teach him a few lessons about mediation. Monk replied that he has to attend people, and he will answer him once he sees everyone. By the time he got free, it was nighttime and there was beautiful moonlight and tranquility that pervaded the place.
Monk said; “Look at this moon and the beautiful shimmer it’s spreading through its light and once when the sun is up and every detail of nature can be seen under sunlight should the moon think, that it’s inferior to the sun?” Immediately the samurai replied,”Of course not! They both have their role to play, so why should any of them feel inferior to the other?”
Monk smiled and said ;”Exactly! Similarly, we both are living upto what we believe in and what we are adorned with to make this world a better place. Hence, there is no place for comparison here.”
Few straightforward reasons to live like our own unique self :
1. Being a master of your traits is much better than being a second hand copy of others.
2. It instills confidence and the real inner core shines through as our soul.
3. We can help the world much better as ourselves as we have something unique to offer which others won’t have but is needed.
4. A gratifying life full of purpose.
5. Will eventually give us everything we require for ourselves, but with a sense of fulfilment and not compromise.
Practice keys :
1. In the morning, writing 10 things about yourself that you like, and practise it more that day.
2. Experiment with new things and understand your inclinations through trial and error if it’s not clear organically.
3. Motivating others to do what they love to, especially the children, as it gives the necessary push and boost.
4. Don’t give up in times of stress and keep it alive somehow even if it can’t take a priority in that period.
5. Every time you give your gifts time, value, and recognition, do congratulate yourself and make that a practise. It’s important to reward ourselves at the right time.

6. Learn something new every now and then to enhance your skills and talents. 

Imagine this world looking like a garden, where every flower blossoms to its full capacity and shares its essence and fragrance.

Love and Joy 🙏🏼