A philosophy professor, standing in front of his audience, took a five-liter glass jar and filled it with stones, each at least three centimeters in diameter.
At the end he asked the students if the jar was full?
They answered: yes, it’s full.
Then he opened a can of peas and poured its contents into a large jar, shaking it a little. The peas took up the free space between the stones. Once again the professor asked the students if the jar was full?
They answered: yes, it’s full.
Then he took a box filled with sand and poured it into a jar. Naturally, the sand completely occupied the existing free space and covered everything.
Once again the professor asked the students if the jar was full? They answered: yes, and this time definitely, it is full.
Then from under the table he took out a mug of water and poured it into the jar to the last drop, soaking the sand.
The students laughed.
“And now I want you to understand that the jar is your life.” Stones are the most important things in your life: family, health, friends, your children - everything that is necessary for your life to still remain complete even if everything else is lost. Polka dots represent things that have become important to you personally: work, home, car. Sand is everything else, little things.
If you fill the jar with sand first, there will be no room left for the peas and rocks to fit. And also in your life, if you spend all your time and all your energy on little things, there is no room left for the most important things. Do what makes you happy: play with your children, spend time with your spouse, meet with friends. There will always be more time to work, clean the house, fix and wash the car. Deal first of all with stones, that is, the most important things in life; define your priorities: the rest is just sand.
Then the student raised her hand and asked the professor, what is the significance of water?
The professor smiled.
- I'm glad you asked me about this. I did this simply to prove to you that no matter how busy your life is, there is always a little room for idleness.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru