This is a story from Zen Buddhism that speaks of the tendency to dwell on the past instead of embracing the present.

Zen story warns against holding on to the past for happiness.

The Woman By The River

We find ourselves complaining about our problems so many times. Hear what the wise old man has to say about that.

The wise old man offers advice on excessive complaining about problems.

Wise Old Man

Listen to a story of a young girl who learns how to tame the negative thoughts in her mind and hear how the lessons she learned along the way led her to become known as "The Dreamweaver".

A young girl learns to tame negative thoughts and becomes "The Dreamweaver."

The Dreamweaver (A Short Story)

We tend to search for peace and happiness externally. We just have to realize that it's not about going somewhere to get it. It's right here within you.

Peace and happiness are within you, not external, realize it.

Finding Peace

We often miss to see that happiness is present, right here in this moment. This story demonstrates just that.

The story illustrates how happiness is often overlooked despite being present in the current moment.

Stop Chasing Happiness

This inspirational story invites us to examine our own lives and how we define success.

A story that inspires us to reflect on our personal definition of success.

The Fisherman & The Businessman

Sometimes to move forward in life and learn something new, we need to let go of what we think we know.

Letting go of what we know is essential to learning and progressing in life.

The Philosopher And The Monk

This is a short story to remind you to give yourself permission to just be happy! Cheers~

Just Be Happy!

You will learn much about what compassion is from this short story.

Short story teaches valuable lessons on compassion.

The Little Monk and the Samurai

If you are feeling down in the dumps or like life has been working against you - This is a quick little reminder to stay hopeful and keep going. Love Trish www.trishbianco.com ALOHA

"Stay hopeful and keep going" - Trish Bianco offers a reminder to those feeling down or defeated.

3min Story For Hope

Learn about the power of searching in silence through this story of a simple farmer trying to find a very valuable lost possession as narrated by Zach Pincince.

A farmer discovers the power of silence while searching for a lost possession in a story narrated by Zach Pincince.

The Power Of Silence (A Short Story)

A Zen story to help you get perspective when stressed or worried. It points to a fundamental existential truth of being alive. www.optimalliving.co.uk

"Zen story offers perspective on existence during stress/worry - Optimalliving.co.uk"

Wisdom Of Change

A short chapter taken from my book titled "Your Simple Path." Allow it to remind you of what the sages, gurus, and the enlightened have told us for 1,000's years. The more that you can slow down and settle into any moment - the better your life will be. Image by Jon Tyson @unsplash

"Your Simple Path" reminds readers to slow down and settle into the present moment to improve their lives, as taught by sages and gurus for thousands of years.

Your First Step To Self Care

How would you like to go for a coffee with a friend? When we want to catch up with our friends we want the environment to be fun and laughter not controlling. This story demonstrates a metaphor about how we try to control our mind no wonder it wants to be away from us. Be friend your mind dear ones then you can begin to enjoy being with yourself.

Don't control your mind, befriend it and enjoy your own company; a metaphor about catching up with friends over coffee.

Becoming your own best friend

Listen to the inspiring story of how we need to be ready for difficulty before it comes our way.

Be prepared for challenges before they arise, as told in an inspirational story.

The Fox and the Wild Boar

We are all naturally resourceful but we forget. It's time to be reminded.

Rediscover your innate resourcefulness and potential.

Embodied Awareness

Learn how a difficult person can be an opportunity for learning and growth.

Difficult people can be an opportunity for learning and growth.

Learning From Difficult People

Listen to this classic tale from Aesop about the importance of staying focused...

Aesop's classic tale emphasizes the value of staying focused.

The Goat and the Wolf

Appreciation, gratitude, and cherishing each breath are wonderful seeds for love and happiness to grow each day!

Nurturing appreciation, gratitude, and cherishing each breath can cultivate love and happiness daily.

Short Story For Love And Happiness

Listen to this classic Aesop's fable of the vain stag getting carried away admiring himself in the water.

Aesop's fable of the vain stag admiring himself in water.

The Lion and the Stag

Listen to this story of how one clever fox tried to deceive his fellow foxes, but they were not taken in! This is one of Aesop's fables, Ancient Greek tales that always amuse and have a moral to the tale.

A clever fox's attempt to deceive fellow foxes fails in a tale from Aesop's fables, entertaining and moralistic Ancient Greek stories.

The Fox Who Lost His Tail

What is your purpose? How do you find meaning in life? Explore these important questions as you enjoy this short story of a boy discovering his purpose while searching for his father's hidden treasure as narrated by Zach Pincince.

A boy discovers his life's purpose while searching for his father's treasure in this short story narrated by Zach Pincince.

Finding Your Purpose (A Short Story)

We can often judge events in our life as good or bad. This Chinese proverb is a gentle reminder to take all things in stride as only time will tell the whole story.

"Chinese proverb reminds us to take life in stride as only time reveals the whole story, regardless of whether events seem good or bad."

Letting Go of Desired Outcomes

This is a Zen story about separating sense of self from anger.

Zen story teaches how to detach oneself from anger by separating the sense of self.

Taming a Temper

Listen to this thought-provoking story of how the two animals help each other out, bringing their own unique gifts to benefit another.

Two animals use their unique gifts to help each other in a thought-provoking story.

The Ant and the Dove

According to Jon Kabat-Zinn, mindfulness is paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally. In short, it means paying attention and being present with what is.

Mindfulness means paying attention in the present moment, non-judgmentally.

The Monk Who Reached Enlightenment

The other ants seem to have forgotten the old legend, Atlas. Until he appears in the yearly "Strength of the Colony" competition to remind everyone who he is...

In the "Strength of the Colony" competition, forgotten legend Atlas returns to remind the other ants of his existence.

The Legend Of Atlas The Ant

Short, funny conversation with God. Good time to reflect on how we can be humble.

Reflect on humility with a short, humorous conversation with God.

Funny Conversation with God

Moving past the tower, the obstacles, and the energy of fear. Moving past the brings in courage to complete goals. You are meant to accomplish and move towards growth.

Overcoming fear and obstacles brings courage to accomplish goals and achieve growth.

Moving Past The Tower

Sometimes we all need a little reminder that all is well and everything is unfolding beautifully for you! Cheers!

A reminder that everything is unfolding beautifully for you.

Magical Moments All is Well

Do you struggle to find meaning and balance in your life? Enjoy this short fable about a rabbit who ponders these same existential questions and seeks advice from a wise owl on how to better live its life.

A rabbit seeks advice from a wise owl on how to find meaning and balance in its life in this short fable.

The Existential Rabbit (A Short Story)

As there's a saying the grass is always green in the other side. It's time to acknowledge your side, take time to explore.

Stop comparing and start exploring your own side of the grass.

The Other Side

This brief guide to accepting and ultimately loving yourself is inspired by the words of Charlie Chaplin. May it be of benefit.

A guide inspired by Charlie Chaplin to help you accept and love yourself.

As I Began to Love Myself

How much is enough? What are you working for? What is your life really about? Ponder these questions as you enjoy a modern re-telling of the classic parable of the Mexican fisherman as narrated by Zach Pincince.

Reflect on life's purpose with a modern interpretation of the Mexican fisherman parable narrated by Zach Pincince.

How Much is Enough? (A Short Story)

Learn to take a different perspective in life and enjoy this short story about a professor who gives his students a surprise pop quiz and uses "the black dot" to teach them all a very valuable life lesson.

Professor teaches valuable life lesson through surprise pop quiz using "the black dot."

The Black Dot (A Short Story)

This is a Zen story about destiny. There is a strong tradition of telling stories as a way of opening the listener to new ideas and perspectives on their own lives.

A Zen story explores destiny and the tradition of using stories to encourage new perspectives on one's life.

Destiny

Many feel that we are broken when we face challenges but often we find those are the moments where we grow stronger.

Challenges can make us stronger, despite feeling broken in the moment.

Broken Vase

Listen to how our Wily fox is cleverer even than the old, cunning lion.

Wily fox outsmarts the old, cunning lion.

The Old Lion

Listen to this story from Aesop's fables - with its clever moral at the end!

Aesop's fable with a clever moral at the end.

The Wild Mountain Goats & The Goat Herd

Based on true story heard in a monastery. You can find beauty in everyone including yourself. Try this task

Discover beauty in every person, including yourself - a lesson from a monastery.

Finding Beauty in Everyone

We often feel ashamed of our flaws however they can be blessings in disguises.

Flaws can be blessings in disguise, despite societal shame.

Cracked Pot

Enjoy a short but sweet story regarding a very tender moment between two friends after a confrontation. Reflect on the powerful message that comes with it.

A short, heartwarming story captures a tender moment between friends, highlighting a powerful message.

Engraving Gratitude

The more we appear to be dancing or “doing” on the outside, the less we truly dance inside. The age clock ticks loudly as it threatens to run out and sets off an alarm as we race against time to “dance as much as we can” before our bodies fail us. Join me for this reminder of the great importance of dancing to our own rhythm in our lives. Find out more about the work I do and check out resources at https://www.wideopenstages.com/

Dance to your own rhythm: a reminder of the importance of inner dancing. Check out https://www.wideopenstages.com/ for more resources.

The Syncopated Rhythm Of Life

This is a Zen story about right and wrong.

Zen story teaches about morality of right and wrong.

Right & Wrong

Don't let your value decrease because you're going through though time. You are special and you are valuable, no matter what.

Your worth remains unchanged during tough times, remember that you are special and valuable.

You Are Valued No Matter What!

A story about our mind and different ways of experiencing it.

Exploring the mind and its diverse experiences.

The Moving Mind

A story about a Zen master who often has a compassionate mind to offer. However, thieves are only concerned with what they can take from others.

A Zen master's compassion is lost on thieves who only seek to take from others.

Moon Cannot Be Stolen

This is one of Aesop's classic ancient Greek tales, and I believe this story is that started off the saying, 'look before you leap!' - good advice.

Aesop's classic Greek tale teaches the importance of looking before you leap.

The Fox and the Goat

Beautiful story about stress management that I heard from my teacher Ajhan Brahm.

Teacher Ajhan Brahm shares a beautiful story about stress management.

How Heavy Is a Glass of Water?

What are the signs and symptoms of inner peace? What does it look like? The answers lay in the old filing cabinet belonging to my deceased colleague and I share them here. Enjoy!

Discover signs and symptoms of inner peace in old filing cabinet of deceased colleague.

Inspirational Stories: Stories