The fourth part of ‘The Zen Series’ shares the short story about the man on the horse…

“A horse suddenly came galloping quickly down the road. It seemed as though the man had somewhere important to go.

Another man, who was standing alongside the road, shouted, “Where are you going?” and the man on the horse replied, “I don’t know! Ask the horse!” 

From ‘6 Awesome Zen Stories That Will Teach You Important Life Lessons’ (Matt Valentine)

Do we really have or practice control over our actions? Do we know where we are going? Sometimes we just go on. Do we have a sense of direction in our lives? 

We follow life patterns and go about doing one thing after another, by default, just like unfeeling robots. There are some that make goals and pursue them… and there are others who have not identified with their purpose in life. They attempt just about anything. When the mind is not calm or where there is lack of inner stability, there will be a tendency for the mind to be all over the place. 

At the end of the day, take a breather and ask yourself – is there a purpose, a reason or logic to your life path? Having fun is great, but you need to decide and understand who is in the driving seat. Is it you or is it someone else? A very important question you need to ask yourself is if you are giving the power to someone else to manage and run your life and whether you are comfortable doing so. 

Get A Grip On Your Life:

1. Identify short-term goals to begin with. These will help you move ahead in life purposefully.
2. Understand that having fun for the heck of it is different from feeling lost and just doing things.
3. Take some time out to understand the road ahead. Stop and see where you are in life right now and then decide where you wish to see yourself later. 
4. Accept, understand and if need be, change the course of your life.

How Can We Change Our Life’s Path?

1. Firstly, be ready to accept and welcome change. Don’t resist it.
2. Be open and honest about what is really going on. Based on this do an honest analysis of what is and what isn’t working for you anymore. 
3. Do not get carried away by everything that you see around you – do not try to emulate the path or journeys of others simply because they seem successful to you. You are unique, as is your path and your journey.
4. Make wise choices, frame your decisions, make plans to execute these decisions and stick with the process. Don’t give in or quit mid-way. You can’t undo years of conditioning/habits in a week!
5. Be more open and receptive of the nudges and signs that nature gives you. 

Control your mind and steer it like the horse in the story. Decide upon your destination and the path you will choose to get there. It is great now and then to trot, but if you have a goal, gallop towards it! Take charge now! Be your own boss!!