Analogy of the Rocks

The Analogy of the Rocks is a metaphorical device used to teach how to eliminate and avoid stress (see Shedding).

The Analogy
Each of us carries with us a backpack. As we go through life, we put little rocks into the backpack. Every time we choose to become agitated, annoyed, or stressed over something, we place these rocks into our backpacks. If we accumulate too many rocks, we become overburdened, and our actual health begins to break down. We cannot fully apply ourselves to many things, because the pack is too distracting or unwieldy. It gets in the way. So we must learn to do two things:
 * 1) remove rocks we have placed in our packs
 * 2) stop putting rocks in there in the first place

Important Considerations
Other people cannot put rocks into our backpacks. One we can do that. Others can only hand us rocks, which we can either discard or place into our packs. If we aren't paying attention, it may seem as though they are doing it, but the choice is always ours. We must remember not to divert blame (Reflection) for who is ultimately responsible for the rocks in our packs.