Good? or bad? Who knows.
When life throws intense experiences our way, we don’t know if it's good or bad. How we respond is everything.
A Story
The unknown origins of this story tells of a farmer who used a horse to help plough his fields.
One day, the horse escaped and galloped off. When the farmer’s neighbors sympathized with the man over the bad news, the farmer replied, “Good? Or Bad? Who Knows?”
A week later, the horse returned with a herd of wild horses! This time, the neighbors congratulated the farmer on this good news. He replied, “Good? Or Bad? Who knows?”
Then, when the farmer’s son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off the horse’s back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this was very bad news. The farmer’s reaction? “Good? Or Bad? Who knows?”
Some weeks later, an army passed through the village, recruiting untrained young people for a dangerous expedition. When they saw the farmer’s son with his broken leg, they left him behind, sparing him from a perilous journey.
Good? Or Bad? Who Knows?
Why This Story Helps
Perspective is everything. We don’t know if something is going to be good or bad until the full picture unfolds - and sometimes, that picture takes time to reveal itself. There are moments in life when we may never get to see the final outcome. What seems like bad or good news today may lead to something better or worse down the road. The truth is that challenges, hardships, and struggles recalibrate us to understand what is good in our own lives. We get to see the depth of our humanity in the face of a crisis or trauma. It is often in these times that we learn how much we have healed - and how much more healing we have yet to do.
Adopting this mindset helps ease the anticipatory anxiety that often arises when we imagine the worst possible outcome. The reality of a situation is frequently less daunting than we expect. It’s the fear of what might happen that causes us more stress than the event itself. Anticipatory anxiety can make us feel stuck in a cycle of worry, but like the farmer, we can only know the true impact of an event when it unfolds. Sometimes, that full picture never reveals itself, but we grow stronger from the journey of trusting that it will.
This mindset allows us to shift away from trying to control outcomes and instead trust in the unfolding of life. It encourages curiosity and openness rather than getting trapped in a mental spiral of prediction and worry.
Right now, emotions are running high, especially after the election results. Across the U.S. and globally, people are feeling a mix of anger, pride, victory, grief, despair, joy, gloating, terror, fear, jubilation, passion, overwhelm, blame, hope, revenge, hatred, optimism, and so much more. No matter where you stand politically, it’s important to remember that pride comes before a fall. How you conduct yourself speaks volumes. You can choose to channel your emotions positively or negatively - it’s your choice. Allowing emotions to exist without being swept up in them takes incredible skill and offers growth opportunities.
Anger, fear, joy, grief, terror, - all of these emotions are valid, we are humans, it’s important we feel and acknowledge them, but how we respond to them shapes the direction of our lives. Spilling emotions out onto someone else doesn’t serve anyone. Anger left unattended eats away at the person holding onto it. It’s like gripping a fiery coal and expecting someone else to feel the pain. Emotions that are not processed, acknowledged, or released can poison us from the inside, affecting not just our health but also our relationships and our peace of mind.
The key to growth and change is tending to your emotions, owning them, and releasing them in a way that serves your own well-being, without transferring that burden onto others. You don’t have to let anger, fear, hatred, anxiety, despair or any of the emotions control you; instead, you can take responsibility for how you process and move through it. By doing so, you free yourself from its destructive grip and open up space for growth, and healing.
Just like the farmer in the story, we may never know the full outcome of any situation right away. We humans often believe we are bigger than we are, and in the face of the Universe being 13+ billion years old we have so much growing to do! The reality of life events often turns out to be less extreme than we imagined. But in facing deep and traumatic challenge, we learn more about ourselves - our resilience, our humanity, our vulnerabilities, and our capacity for healing.
How to navigate this week and beyond
Notice your thoughts and emotions when faced with uncertainty or intense feelings, whether related to politics, personal struggles, or anything else.
Instead of holding onto anger, fear, pride, or jubilation, or trying to predict the future, try adopting the farmer’s approach: “Good? Or Bad? Who knows?”
See how it shifts your perspective.
How will you tend to and release your emotions in a way that serves your highest good?
Share a supportive comment below.
Disclaimer: The information and services provided by Birch Cove are for educational and informational purposes only and are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Birch Cove and its affiliates do not treat, cure, or prescribe any health or medical conditions. This content is provided for awareness and general guidance. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or health needs. Birch Cove does not any hold liability for actions you or others take based on the information or services provided.
