When everything in life seems perfect, it’s easy to let our ego take control. In the prime of our career, relationships, or fame, we can get so consumed by the applause and admiration of others that we forget it’s all temporary.
Success, like everything else, is fleeting. We must be careful not to let it take over our emotions, because when failure approaches after we’ve sipped the sweet nectar of success, it can plunge us into depression and anxiety. The things that once worked in our favor may no longer do so, leaving us feeling lost and disheartened.
Suddenly, people who once admired us may change and no longer treat us with the respect they did when we were at our peak. As people change with time, we must remain grounded and not let their shifting attitudes influence our own sense of self-worth. Let me illustrate this with a short story.
The Mango tree’s Lesson
Once upon a time, in the lush Sahyadri Mountains of India, a tiny mango plant sprouted among the tall trees. It was so small that the jungle hardly noticed it. The little plant often wondered why the animals and birds didn’t pay any attention to it. Every day, it wished to grow big and beautiful so everyone would love and admire it.
One evening, as the sun began to set, a kind merchant was traveling through the jungle. He had a long journey and needed a place to rest. When he spotted the tiny mango plant, he decided to stop and take a break. The merchant looked around carefully, examining the soil and trees. “This is the perfect spot,” he whispered to himself with a smile.
The merchant gently reached into his bag and pulled out a small plant. It looked a lot like the tiny mango plant, but there was something special about it. He carefully planted it right next to the mango plant, making sure no one saw him. His hands moved with care, as if he was handling something very precious.
Throughout the night, while the jungle slept, the merchant quietly worked. He placed stones around the plants, building a small rock fence to protect them from wandering animals and curious creatures. The little mango plant was puzzled. Why was the merchant being so kind to it and the little plant beside it? But deep down, the tiny mango plant felt hopeful. Maybe its wish to be loved and admired was finally coming true.
As time passed, the mango plant grew bigger and stronger. Its branches stretched toward the sky, and its leaves shone in the sunlight. The little plant next to it, however, remained small and didn’t grow much at all. The mango plant felt proud and thought, “I’m growing so fast! That’s why the merchant took such good care of me!” It believed it was special because it was tall and strong.
Soon, the mango plant grew into a big, tall tree. It became the pride of the jungle, with juicy, sweet mangoes hanging from its branches. The delicious smell of the mangoes spread through the air, attracting animals from all around. Birds loved to sit on its branches, animals enjoyed the cool shade, and bees buzzed around its pretty flowers. The mango tree felt very happy and proud, thinking it had finally become the most loved tree in the whole jungle.
But one day, something different happened. A new scent filled the air, one that wasn’t from the sweet mangoes. The animals sniffed the air curiously, trying to find out where the new, lovely smell was coming from.
They followed the scent until they discovered a beautiful tree that had quietly grown right next to the mango tree. This new tree had a special fragrance that everyone adored. The animals couldn’t stop talking about how amazing it was. The mango tree, once the most loved tree in the jungle, was now just another tree. It felt sad and lonely as everyone flocked to the new tree.
This new tree was a sandalwood tree, and its fragrance was magical. The animals admired its lovely scent and gathered around it every day. The mango tree watched as its friends—the birds, monkeys, and squirrels—played around the sandalwood tree. They didn’t visit the mango tree as much anymore, and it felt more and more forgotten.
As the sandalwood tree grew bigger and stronger, it began to attract not just animals, but also danger. Snakes, drawn to its sweet smell, started slithering around its roots. What used to be a happy place became a bit scary, but the animals were too enchanted by the sandalwood tree’s fragrance to notice the danger.
One day, the merchant who had planted the sandalwood tree returned to the jungle. He wasn’t afraid of the snakes. Instead, he was very happy with how well the tree had grown. He hugged and kissed the sandalwood tree, just like he used to when it was small. The sandalwood tree felt happy from his touch, remembering how much care it had received.
But the next day, something unexpected happened. The merchant came back with a big, sharp axe. The sandalwood tree couldn’t believe what was happening. It realized it had been grown just like a crop. In a jungle full of free animals and trees, it had always been a prisoner, pretending to be free. It had spread joy with its lovely smell, but it never noticed the danger around it.
As the merchant started chopping down the sandalwood tree, it hoped its friends would come to help. But no one came. The animals were too busy trying to get one last whiff of its sweet scent. They weren’t thinking about the tree; they just wanted its smell. The sandalwood tree, once loved by everyone, realized that the love it received wasn’t true—it was only for what it could give, not for the tree itself.
The mango tree watched all of this happen and learned something very important. It realized that true kindness doesn’t expect anything in return. The sandalwood tree had shared its lovely smell because it loved being admired. The mango tree had given its sweet mangoes because it didn’t want to be lonely. But in the end, both trees had only been thinking of themselves, and it brought them sadness.
The mango tree decided that from now on, it would share its sweet fruit not because it wanted attention, but simply to make others happy. It learned that the best way to be loved is to love others without expecting anything in return.
And so, the mango tree continued to grow, not just tall and strong, but also wise and kind. It became a place where animals could find shade, where birds could build their nests, and where everyone could enjoy its sweet mangoes. It wasn’t the most famous tree in the jungle anymore, but it was the most loved, and that made all the difference.
The moral of this story is that true kindness and generosity should come from the heart, without expecting anything in return. When we give only because we seek admiration, attention, or love, it can lead to disappointment and sadness. Genuine happiness comes from selflessly helping others, not from the rewards or recognition we might receive.