Overcoming fear.

The power of fear

My first story is aimed at all those who worry that people might find out who they really are—especially those who would literally think and feel suicidal thoughts if people found out. Even death for some hurt souls seems to be a better place than being truthful and dissolving those bullying thoughts and feelings!

The Snake in the Cup

One day a businessman was drinking a cup of tea at the house of a female business acquaintance when he noticed what he thought was a baby snake in his cup. Not wishing to embarrass his hostess, he gulped down the tea—snake and all—and hastily left.

The thought of the tiny snake in his stomach really distressed the man. For the rest of the day he felt nauseated, and when he went to bed that night he had terrible stomach ache. Fearing that he may have contracted some terrible disease from the snake, or worse, that the snake was still alive and was gnawing his insides, he resolved to visit the doctor as soon as possible. Early in the morning, after a very disturbed night’s sleep, he set out for the doctor’s surgery.

On the way he passed the house where he had swallowed the snake. His friend, who happened to be looking out of the window, noticed his miserable condition and invited him inside. The sick man sat where he had sat before, and politely accepted another cup of tea, but as he raised the cup to drink, he saw another snake! He threw the cup to the floor and quickly explained his impolite behavior to his puzzled friend. She smiled and pointed to the ceiling, where a short length of rope was dangling. “There’s your snake,” said his friend. “What you thought was a baby snake was a reflection of a little piece of rope!” The man’s stomach pain disappeared immediately, and he was back to perfect health in an hour.