The Golden Brick

The Golden Brick parable is a simple yet powerful reminder that we set our own boundaries and only we are in charge of our happiness

Someone walks up to you and tries to hand you a dirty old brick, do you take it? It's of no valuable and is literally just weighing you down. Most people when asked this question say no. Or, they accept it and then quickly discard it.

Now, someone walks up and tries to hand you a golden brick, do you take it? Most people say yes! It has great value and can help in many ways.

What these bricks signify is the interactions you're dealing with all day. People come up to you everyday with negative or positive things (a dirty or golden brick) and you have to constantly decide whether or not you're going to accept what they are offering to you.

“The more we know about what we want, the more we practice ahead of time, the more golden bricks we will get.”

What some don't realize is that you don't have to take everything that is offered. If someone is giving you negative energy, a rude comment, non-constructive criticism that is their dirty old brick and you do NOT have to pick it up and carry it with you. This doesn't mean you have to have a confrontation with them. Just having the knowledge that they are overloaded with dirty bricks and they are trying to unload some of them onto you gives you the freedom to leave the brick. Walk away from the brick. You do not have to pick it up and carry it with you forever, or even for the rest of the day.

Take stock of the bricks you carry now. If they are not serving a purpose - if they are not a golden brick - set them down. That critical remark your coworker made about your presentation? That is not your dirty brick. Unburden yourself and set standards for yourself. Only accept the golden bricks that people will offer you. Visualize when someone is throwing out aggressive or unnecessary comments, they are holding a dirty old brick. Leave that brick with them. Don't waste your precious energy carrying around other people's baggage.

When you begin to see dirty bricks vs golden bricks you can begin to eliminate the negative energy you've been absorbing from others. You may be surprised at all the dirty old bricks you're offered and how long you've been accepting them. The first step is awareness. Now you begin the exciting process of looking for golden bricks throughout your day.