Half filled glass and an empty tea cup?

Half-Filled Glass
and An Empty Tea Cup?

Western Perception:

What is your first impression of this verse? Half-filled or Half- empty?

“Is the glass half-filled or half-empty?” is one of the most popular rhetoric used to examine the power of positive and negative thinking.

What you see and experience are determined by your perception.
A half filled glass is considered to be a sign of positive thinking. While a half-empty glass is a perception of negative thinking.

I have heard many American speakers tell their students, if their glass was only half- filled at birth, how fortunate the people livening in America have a chance to fill their glass the rest of the way up and this is greater than it is anyplace else on this planet.

Eastern vs. Western:

I was born and raised in Japan. I find it very interesting that the Western thoughts are very different than Eastern thoughts. As we speak about our perception of the glass half-filled or half-empty, a Zen story, a Koan of a full tea cup and an empty tea cup. An eager university professor goes to learn Zen at a Zen temple. This Zen Master will not teach the professor at first.

Zen Master and Professor:
The following is my spiritual guide, Yukiko Karun’s version;

“A proud, prominent professor went to inquire about Zen. Zen Master, Nan-in, served tea. At first he poured his visitor’s cup full, and then kept on pouring… without a word. The professor was perplexed at first. The sound of dripping tea became deafening. No longer being able to contain himself, he exclaimed. ‘It’s overfull. Tea is spilling out!’ ‘Your mind is like this cup,’ Nan-in said with a gentle smiling face. ‘You are full of your own opinions and assumptions and you think you know it all. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?’
~Yukiko Karuna~

This is clearly a lesson of letting go of one’s ego and learning to be humble.
So often many blame for their poor results on their teachers, mentors, bosses, company, course they took, school, institution, etc.

If you feel, you have nothing to do with your poor results, then you would have to change your environment. But frequently people do continue to follow the same pattern of behavior when they switch to a new environment.

1] Make a list of your results in various aspects of your personal and business life.
2] Are you working with a coach in your business? Do you belong to a team?
3] Do you belong to a great community of like-minded people? Are you working hard but can you work smart. If you are looking for something more, check this free presentation.

You can apply both the Western and Eastern approach to improve your personal and business life.

Humility is often misunderstood:

It is not about losing your power to an authority.
It is not about someone bossing you around.
Humility is one of the important spiritual attitudes that you must practice in your personal life as well as in business.

Is the Western way quite different from the Eastern way?
They may be very different. We can learn from the teachings of both cultures. Empty your ‘tea cup.’ Continue to access a free bonus.

1] Start with an empty tea cup. Your teachers or mentors will be thrilled to work with you. Because you are open, willing and coachable.
2] Then always see your situation as the half-filled glass.
3] Be inspired and work to achieve your goal.
4] But don’t be over-pouring when your cup cannot hold that much, yet.

I will share with you one of my favorite quotes of inspiration.

“The greatest achievement was at first and for a time a dream. The oak sleeps in the acorn, the bird waits in the egg, and in the highest vision of the soul a waking angel stirs. Dreams are the seedlings of realities.”
~James Allen~

Let’s create a story of an empty tea cup to a full glass of…
Click to learn more and Book Your FREE Breakthrough Coaching session. >>

To your success,
Yukiko Iino

Half filled glass and an empty tea cup?

Half-Filled Glass and An Empty Tea Cup?

Half-Filled Glass
and An Empty Tea Cup?