Natural Freedom

One day, an old professor of the national school of public administration (ENAP) was engages to give a formation on the effective planning of his time to a group of around fifteen leaders of big North-American companies. This course was made one of the five
workshops of their day of formation. The old teacher only had one hour " to pass his subject ".

Standing, in front of this group (which was ready to note all that the expert was going to teach), the old teacher looked at them one by one, slowly, then told them: " We will do an experiment ".

Under the table which separated him from his student, the old teacher left a big Macon pot of one gallon (pot of glass of more than 4 liters) which he delicately put in front of him. Then, he took approximately a dozen of stones around the size of tennis ball and placed them delicately, one by one, in the large pot. When the pot was filled to the edge and that it was impossible to add another stone, he slowly raised the eyes towards his students and asked them:

" is this pot full? ".
All answered: " Yes ".
He waited a few seconds and added: " Really? ".

Then, he leaned again and took under the table a container filled with gravel. With meticulousness, he poured this gravel on large stones then shaked the pot slightly.The pieces of gravel infiltrated between stones... until the bottom of the pot.

The old teacher raised raise again the eyes towards his audience and ask " is this pot full? ". This time, his good students started to understand his idea.

One of them answered: " Probably not! ".
" Good " answered the old teacher he leaned again and this time, took under the table some sand With attention, he poured sand in the pot. Sand went to fill spaces between large stones and the gravel. Once again, he asked: " is this pot full? ".

This time, without hesitating and in chorus, the brilliants students answered: " No! ".
" Good " said the old teacher And as the students expected it, he took a water jug which was on the table and fills the pot until the edge. The old teacher then raised the eyes towards his group and asked: " Which great truth shows us this experiment? "

Not insane, the most daring of the students, thinking about the subject of this course, answered: " That shows that even when we believe that our appointment book is completely filled, if we really want, we can add more appointment, more things to do ".

No" said the old Teacher " It is not that The great truth this experiment shows us is this one: if we don't put the big stones first in the pot, we will never be able to enter them all after, ". There was a deep silence, everyone become aware of the obviousness of these remarks.

Then the old teacher says to them: " Which are thebig stones in your life? "
" Your health? "
" Your family? "
" Your friends? "
" Realize your dreams? "
" To do what you like? "
" To learn? "
" To defend a cause? "
" To release? "
" To take the time...?"
" Or... anything else? ".

" what is to remember, is the importance to put in our BIG STONES in first in our life, otherwise we risk to not make a success of... our life. If one gives priority to the little and not important things (gravel, sand), one will fill his life of not important things and one will not have enough precious time to devote to the significant elements of his life.

Then, do not forget to ask yourself this question "Which are the BIG STONES in my life? " Then, put them in first in your pot (life)" Of a friendly hand gesture, the old professor greeted his audience and slowly left the room.

Good meditation!