THE GIANT

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Once upon a time there stood a poverty-stricken village at the foot of a mountain.

On top of the mountain was some hidden treasure, which would solve all the villagers’ problems, but the treasure was guarded by an enormous giant, who bellowed so ferociously at anyone who climbed the mountain that no villager dared to do so.

The villagers remained poor, existing on what little they could grow in the mountain’s shadow.

Then one year, disaster struck — the harvest failed.

Therefore, out of despair the villagers turned to their king for help.

Unless the king could bring back the treasure, they would all starve to death.

With trepidation in his heart and the last loaf of bread in his knapsack, the king set of up the mountain.

As he climbed the giant suddenly pounced from behind a huge boulder. Sure, enough he was enormous! He roared horribly and tried to terrify the king out of his wits.

He nearly succeeded, but instead of running away, the king braced himself and took a tiny step towards the giant. Was his imagination playing tricks? Or had the giant shrunk an inch?

He took another step forward and the giant seemed to shrink a little more.

The diminution continued until the king, upon reaching the giant, was able to hold him in the palm of his hand. “You don’t look much like a giant now,” said the king. “We’ll have to call you something else. What is your name anyway?” In a weak feeble voice, the giant replied, ‘My name is Terror!’

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The point of this story is that terror, or fear and its offshoots, anxiety, panic, worries and apprehension are all in the mind. Facing one’s fears is the first step anyone can make toward conquering them, and is also to discover a real treasure is the freedom from fear and anxiety.

In short practicing self-control and calmness in difficult situation is the antidot to them.

This story like many shows the power and directness of explaining to anybody, including children, the nature of fear that is the very essence of the ISE’s educational  concept.

Wishing you a life free of worries, anxiety and fears.

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From the Book: ‘Women’s Rights and Other Issues’ by Pierrot Armanno.