Road Scholar: How Heavy is a Glass of Water?

A teacher once started her class by filling a drinking glass halfway up. She then asked the unexpected question to her students. “How heavy is this glass of water?” Students shouted out answers ranging from eight ounces to sixteen ounces. 

She paused for a moment and replied, “the absolute weight of this glass doesn’t matter. It all depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute or two, it’s fairly light. If I hold it for an hour straight, its weight might make my arm ache a little. If I hold it for a day straight, my arm will likely cramp up and feel completely numb and paralyzed, forcing me to drop the glass to the floor. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it feels to me.”

As the class nodded their heads in agreement, she continued, “your stresses and worries in life are very much like this glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and you begin to ache a little. Think about them all day long, and you will feel completely numb and paralyzed — incapable of doing anything else until you drop them.”

This is a true analogy for many individuals who carry that glass of water every day and for years without setting it down because they don’t want to ask for help or show any weakness. While there’s nothing wrong with working hard and taking your share of responsibilities, you shouldn’t sacrifice your quality of life or jeopardize your mental health in the process.

It’s important to remember that asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. Actually, asking for help shows signs of strength, confidence, and resourcefulness. In a world where people expect problems to be solved fast, surrounding yourself with people who can help you in different situations is highly valuable.

Ask for help from others when the weight of the glass becomes to heavy.