"The Heart of the Lock"

Five days ago is when our garage door stopped working. We tried troubleshooting as best we could but, in the end, we simply had to sit back and wait for a repairman to make it over to the house. In the meantime, I locked myself out of the house twice. You know that feeling, right? You turn the door handle in disbelief and then you try it again because, surely, it will open the second time. Then maybe you get a little more forceful with the door, but it doesn't matter, because the lock was meant to keep people out.  And you can scream, kick and bang all day but, just because your energy and velocity rise, does not mean the door will actually open.  It requires but one thing. A small thin piece of metal called a key.

The Lock by Derek Lin, The Tao of Daily Life
"Once upon a time, there was a vault containing gold, diamonds and gems. A sturdy lock guarded the door to this vault, to keep its contents secure.
The mighty crowbar came by and saw the lock as a challenge. He had never encountered anything he couldn't demolish before. Did they really think they could keep him out of the vault with one simple lock?
The crowbar was a thick and heavy bar of iron. Countless crates, chests, and cabinets disintegrated before his attack. He took considerable pride in his strength and destructive power. Looking at the lock, he decided he should smash it, just to make a point.
The crowbar struck the lock, expecting it to break apart, but it was unaffected. This surprised him. He struck again, putting more force into it. He got the same result – the lock didn't even show a dent! Now he was becoming annoyed.
Using his full strength, the crowbar struck again and again. Sparks flew and the noise was deafening. When finally he stopped due to exhaustion, he was amazed to see that the lock was still in one piece. This was the toughest obstacle he had ever faced.
He was still trying to figure out what to do next when the key came along. He looked at the key and saw that she was very small compared to him. The difference between them was dramatic. He was massive and muscular; she seemed insignificant and weak.
She asked him: "Were you the one making all that racket?"
"Oh, you ain't heard nothing yet. Just let me catch my breath and I'll show this lock who's boss."
"No need," said the key. She slipped into the lock and turned slightly. The crowbar heard a click, and then the lock fell open.
He couldn't believe it. "Wait a minute. This makes no sense. I am a lot more powerful than you are. How can you open it so easily when I couldn't do it after all that effort?"
The key told him: "Because I am the one who understands the heart of the lock.""

What works best for you when confronted with frustration? Lashing out or remaining calm?  Being right or being happy?  If you could have anything happen today, what would it be? And do you believe you already hold the key to make it happen?

Tao Te Ching: "The lock is not an obstacle to the key because the key knows its inner workings."

You do because your answer came from your heart.

In the same way remember, “No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the keys.”  Doug Horton