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It’s easy to look at others and feel like you’re not good enough. This story shows why it’s important to accept yourself and find happiness in who you are.
Once, there was a crow who was very unhappy. He sat on a tree, crying. A monk was under the tree. A tear from the crow fell on the monk. The monk asked, “Why are you crying?”
The crow said, “I am upset with my life. No one loves me. People chase me away and don’t give me food. Everyone hates me. Death is better than this.”
The monk felt sorry for the crow. He said, “We should be happy with what we have.”
The crow didn’t understand. He kept crying. The monk asked, “What do you want to be? I can make you that with my magic.”
The crow became happy. He said, “Make me a swan.”
The monk said, “Okay, but first, ask a swan if he is happy.”
The crow flew to a swan swimming in a pond. “You are so beautiful,” the crow said. “You are as white as milk. Everyone loves you. You must be the happiest bird.”
The swan said, “No, I’m not happy. There are so many beautiful colors, but I don’t have any. White is nothing. The parrot must be the happiest.”
The crow flew to the parrot. “You are so colorful and beautiful. You must be the happiest bird.”
The parrot said, “No, I’m not happy. People keep parrots in cages. I’m afraid someone will lock me up. The peacock is the happiest.”
The crow found a peacock in a zoo cage. Many people came to see him. The crow said, “Dear peacock, you are so beautiful. Thousands of people come to see you. I think you are the happiest bird.”
The peacock replied, “I thought I was the happiest bird, but because of my beauty, I’m trapped in this zoo. People pluck my feathers. It hurts a lot. I’m not happy.”
The crow was surprised. He asked, “Who is the happiest bird?”
The peacock said, “The crow. You are not kept in a cage. People don’t try to catch you. If I were a crow, I could roam everywhere. I could be free.”
The crow went back to the monk. For the first time, the crow was happy to be a crow. He said, “I don’t want to be anything else. I’m fine as I am.”
We often compare ourselves to others. This makes us sad and unhappy. Instead, learn to be happy with what you have. Don’t focus on what you don’t have. There will always be someone who has more or less than you.
If you keep comparing yourself to others, you will never be happy. A person who is happy with what they have is the happiest person in the world. Don’t compare yourself to anyone.
Ready to stop the comparison game? Start focusing on your strengths and appreciate what you have!
The Priceless Power of Peace: Unlocking Inner Harmony
This story leaves us with a lesson as timeless as it is urgent: in a world that bombards us with curated glimpses of others’ lives—whether via social media, polished resumes, or casual boasts—comparison is a silent thief of joy. It traps us in a cycle of “not enough”: not as successful, not as polished, not as “put together” as the person across the room or on our screens. But here’s the truth: those snapshots we envy are just fragments, edited to hide the messy, unglamorous parts of life we all share.
True happiness, then, is not a prize won by outshining others, but a quiet choice to meet ourselves where we are. It’s waking up and thinking, “This is my story—imperfect, unfolding, and mine alone.” Gratitude isn’t about settling; it’s about noticing the small, uncelebrated gifts: a warm cup of coffee, a friend’s offhand laugh, the strength to keep going even when things are hard. These are the threads that weave a life feel rich, regardless of how it measures up to someone else’s.
In the end, the most freeing thing we can do is stop keeping score. Happiness lives not in comparison, but in the courage to accept ourselves—and in the wisdom to cherish the life we’re already living.
Time is our most precious commodity – Reimagine
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Aveline Lux is a visionary writer and digital storyteller, using her blog on CitiWell Shop as a platform to explore the intersection of creativity, commerce, and culture.
Traveling extensively across continents, Aveline draws inspiration from different cultures and global trends, infusing her articles with unique perspectives and practical insights.
Aveline enjoys photography, hiking through nature trails, and curating playlists that fuel her creative process.
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