ONCE UPON A TIME ON HOLISTIWORLD THERE USED TO BE A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND ENTHRALLING VILLAGE NEAR A VERY PEACFUL RIVER.
IN THAT VILLAGE THERE LIVED A YOUNG, MERCIFUL AND GULLIBLE BOY NAMED ZABOOMAFU.
HE WAS SO GULLIBLE THAT EVEN A LITTLE GIRL OF 10 YEARS OF AGE COULD FOOL HIM.
ZABOOMAFU HAD GINORMOUS DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS IN HIS LIFE, AND HE WAS COMPLETELY DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE THEM NO MATTER WHAT OBSTICLES CAME HIS WAY.
HE WAS PREPARED TO COPE WITH THEM.
HOWEVER, HIS LIFE WAS FILLED WITH MANY TOXIC PEOPLE WHO DID NOT WANT ZABOOMAFU TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS AND ACHIEVE ANY ACHIEVEMENTS IN HIS LIFE.
ZABOOMAFU SOON REALIZED THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE WHO WERE CONSTANTLY BRINGING HIM DOWN FROM REACHING WHERE HE ALWAYS WANTED TO REACH.
THESE WERE THE TOXIC PEOPLE WHO CONSTANTLY CRITICIZED, BELITTLED, AND DISCOURAGED HIM.
MOST OF THESE TOXIC PEOPLE WERE NO OTHER THAN HIS FRIENDS, RELATIVES AND NEIGHBOURS WHO WERE ALWAYS ENVIOUS OF HIM.
AT FIRST, ZABOOMAFU TRIED TO IGNORE THESE TOXIC PEOPLE AND CONTINUED TO PURSUE HIS DREAMS.
THEIR NEGATIVITY STARTED TO AFFECT HIS CONFIDENCE AND MOTIVATION.
HE BEGAN TO DOUBT HIMELF AND HIS ABILITIES.
THESE TOXIC PEOPLE WERE BRINGING HIM DOWN AND HE KNEW THAT HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
ONE DAY ZABOOMAFU MADE UP HIS MIND TO CONFRONT THE TOXIC PEOPLE OF HIS VILLAGE.
HE TOLD THEM HOW THEIR NEGATIVIY AND NEGATIVE TALKS WERE AFFECTING HIM AND HE COULD NO LONGER TOLLERATE IT.
SOME OF THEM WERE APOLOGETIC, WHILE OTHERS CONTINUED TO BE TOXIC.
ZABOOMAFU REALIZED THAT CUTTING HIMSELF OFF FROM THE TOXIC PEOPLE WAS NOT EASY FOR HIM, BUT WAS NECESSARY FOR HIS WELL BEING AND SUCCESS.
FROM THAT DAY ON, ZABOOMAFU MADE A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO SURROUND HIMSELF WITH SUPPORTIVE AND POSITIVE PEOPLE WHO COULD MOTIVATE AND INSPIRE HIM THROUGHOUT HIS JOURNEY.
ONE DAY, WHEN ZABOOMAFU WAS SITTING UNDER A LARGE TREE NEAR THE BEAUTIFUL POND BY HIS VILLAGE, A FEW OF HIS NEGATIVE FRIENDS WHO HAD BECOME SO MUCH RICH IN THEIR LIVES APPROACHED ZABOOMAFU AND ASKED HIM WHAT HE HAD THOUGHT TO DO IN THE NEAR FUTURE AND WHAT HE HAD DONE IN HIS LIFE SO FAR.
AT THIS TIME, ZABOOMAFU COULD SAY NOTHING TO THEM, BUT KNEW THIS IN HIS HEART…
THAT THOSE ‘FRIENDS’ WERE THE ILL WISHERS IN THE GUISE OF HIS FRIENDS.
THAT’S WHY HE SAID NOTHING TO THEM ABOUT HIS FUTURE FRIENDS.
BUT SOMEWHERE OR THE OTHER, IT HAD HURT ZABOOMAFU’S FEELINGS.
NOW, HE WAS GETTING AMBIGUOUS ABOUT HIS DREAMS AND ASPIRATIONS.
BEING DISTURBED BY ALL THIS, ZABOOMAFU DECIDED TO APPROACH AN OLD, WISE, ZEN MASTER TO SEEK HIS GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT THAT COULD SAIL HIS BOAT OF LIFE THROUGH THE OCEAN OF LIFE.
AND ONE OF HIS VERY GOOD FRIENDS TOLD HIM THAT THE ZEN MASTER USED TO RESIDE PEACFULLY AMONG HIS DISCIPLES IN HIS MONESTARY, NESTLED AMONG THE HIGH AND WIDER VALLEYS.
THE WISE, OLD ZEN MASTER WAS VERY RENOWNED FOR HIS GUIDANCE, PROFOUND WISDOM AND DEEP KNOWLEDGE.
AFTER COVERING THE ARDUOUS JOURNEY TO THE MONASTERY, ZABOOMAFU FINALLY REACHED THERE.
HAVING REACHED THERE, ZABOOMAFU SAW THAT THE ZEN MASTER HAD ALREADY BEEN ENGAGED IN SOLVING THE PROBLEMS AND THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE TROUBLED BY LIFE.
ZABOOMAFU BOWED RESPECTFULLY BEFORE THE MASTER AND SAT DOWN.
WHEN ZABOOMAFU’S TURN CAME, HE TOLD THE WHOLE HAPPENING TO THE MASTER.
HE SAID TO THE MASTER, “SIR, PEOPLE TAUNT, DISCOURAGE, BELITTLE AND DISRESPECT ME WHENEVER AND WHEREVER THEY FIND ANY OPPORTUNITY.”
AT FIRST, THE MASTER WENT ON LISTENING TO ALL THIS, AND SMILED GENTLY AND SAID, “ZABOOMAFU, PEOPLE START GETTING JEALOUS OF YOU. THEY START BELITTLING YOU AND SPEAKING ILL TO YOU WHEN THEY FIND YOU BETTER THAN THEMSELVES. WHEN THEY SEE YOU’RE GETTING AHEAD OF ALL OF THEM IN LIFE. ZABOOMAFU, YOU MUST BE HAPPY THAT PEOPLE ARE JEALOUS OF YOU, SAY BAD THINGS TO YOU, DISCOURAGE YOU, THIS SHOWS THAT SOMEWHERE YOU ARE AHEAD OF THOSE PEOPLE IN THE RACE OF LIFE.”
ON THIS, ZABOOMAFU SAID, “SIR, HOWEVER, PLEASE TEACH AND GUIDE ME HOW I CAN AVOID AND HANDLE THESE PLAGUEY AND PEACE DISTURBING PEOPLE IN MY LIFE.”
ON THIS, THE ZEN MASTER SAID TO ZABOOMAFU, “ZABOOMAFU, MY SON, MANY PEOPLE FACE THE PROBLEM OF TOXIC PEOPLE IN THEIR LIFE. TOXIC PEOPLE ARE THOSE WHO ARE NEGATIVE, RUDE, MEAN OR DISHONEST. THEY TRY TO BRING OTHERS DOWN OR HURT THEM WITH THEIR WORDS OR ACTIONS. THEY CREATE A LOT OF STRESS AND UNHAPPINESS IN OTHERS LIFE. THAT’S WHY TODAY I WILL TELL YOU THE THREE (3) BEST WAYS TO KEEP THE TOXIC PEOPLE AWAY FROM YOUR LIFE AND LIVE A PEACFUL LIFE. SO LISTEN CAREFULLY, ZABOOMAFU. THE FIRST BEST WAY TO REMOVE TOXIC PEOPLE FROM YOUR LIFE IS THAT YOU NEVER GIVE YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION TO THEM. AT FIRST, THESE PEOPLE WILL HURT YOU WITH THEIR NEGATIVE WORDS AND ACTIONS, AND LATER ASK YOU IF YOU GOT HURT. SO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LIVE A PEACFUL LIFE WHERE THERE SHOULD BE NO TOXIC ELEMENTS, NO NEGATIVITY, THEN YOU HAVE TO PUT YOUR WHOLE ATTENTION ON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN YOUR LIFE, AND DON’T LET ANYTHING DISTRACT YOU FROM DOING IT. JUST FOCUS ON ONLY WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU AND WHAT YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER. ZABOOMAFU, WHEN WE ARE FOCUSED ON OUR WORK, OR PRIORITIES, THEN WE DON’T HAVE THE TIME FOR ALL THE DRAMA AROUND US. WE DON’T HAVE THE TIME TO NOTICE THE MISTAKES OF OTHERS. ZABOOMAFU, MY SON, WHEREVER YOU GO YOU WILL SURELY FIND SUCH TOXIC PEOPLE WHO WILL ALWAYS TRY TO BRING YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL.”
AFTER IMPARTING THE FIRST LESSON TO ZABOOMAFU, THE ZEN MASTER STARTED IMPARTING THE SECOND BEST WAY TO HANDLE TOXIC PEOPLE, AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T LIKE US.
“ZABOOMAFU, MY SON, WHENEVER YOU FIND TOXIC PEOPLE AROUND YOU, NEVER RESPOND TO THEM. THIS IS THE BEST REPLY TO THEM FROM OUR SIDE. JUST KEEP YOURSELF ENGAGED WITH WHAT’S BEST FIOR YOU, AND WHAT’S BEST FOR YOUR PRESENT AND FUTURE. THE MORE YOU PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT THESE PEOPLE SAY THE MORE YOU WILL TROUBLE YOURSELF, THE MORE YOU WILL TROUBLE YOURSELF FROM WITHIN. THAT’S WHY YOU MUST MAKE YOURSELF STRONG BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE, SO WHENEVER YOU COME ACROSS A BAD PERSON YOU WILL BE READY FOR IT. THEY WERE ALWAYS TOXIC BEFORE YOU AND THEY WILL BE TOXIC AFTER YOU. ZABOOMAFU, MY CHILD, YOU DON’T HAVE TO MAKE ROOM FOR PEOPLE WHO CAUSE YOU PAIN, SUFFERING, OR MAKE YOU FEEL SMALL. IT’S ONE THING IF A PERSON OWNS UP TO THEIR BEHAVIOUR AND MAKES AN EFFORT TO CHANGE. BUT IF A PERSON DISREGARDS YOUR FEELINGS, IGNORES YOUR BOUNDARIES AND CONTINUES TO TREAT YOU IN A HARMFUL WAY, THEN YOU NEED TO GO. ZABOOMAFU, ALWAYS REMEMBER THE TOXIC PEOPLE MAY COME FROM YOUR FAMILY TOO. IT IS NOT NECESSARY THAT NEGATIVE AND TOXIC PEOPLE MEET US OUTSIDE. SOMETIMES IT ALSO HAPPENS THAT WE ENCOUNTER THESE PEOPLE IN OUR OWN HOUSE OR IN RELATION. THESE PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY SELF CENTERED AND SELF ABSORBED. THEY JUST THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES. THEY DO ONLY THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE GOOD TO THEM AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS. THEY ARE THE MANIPULATOR. THEY JUST KNOW HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE.”
THE ZEN MASTER BEGINS TO IMPART THE THIRD AND THE LAST LESSON ABOUT THE TOXIC PEOPLE TO THE TROUBLED ZABOOMAFU.
THE ZEN MASTER SAYS TO ZABOOMAFU, “LEARN THE ART OF LETTING GO IF YOU REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH THE TOXIC PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE. WHEN YOU LET GO OF THE TOXIC PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE YOU WILL FIND THAT LIFE BECOMES SO MUCH EASIER. ZABOOMAFU, MY CHILD, UNTIL YOU LET GO OF ALL THE TOXIC PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL NEVER BE A BLE TO GROW INTO YOUR FULLEST POTENTIAL IN LIFE. SO LET THEM GO SO YOU CAN GROW AND LIVE HAPPILY. ZABOOMAFU, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LET PEOPLE GO BECAUSE THEY ARE TOXIC TO YOU. THEY ARE TOXIC TO THE PEACE OF YOUR MIND. SO LET THEM GO BECAUSE THEY TAKE AND TAKE AND IN THE END THEY LEAVE YOU EMPTY. THAT’S WHY IT BECOMES VERY NECESSARY FOR US TO LET THESE TOXIC AND NEGATIVE PEOPLE OUT OF OUR LIFE, BECAUSE IN THE OCEAN OF LIFE, WHEN ALL YOU ARE TRYING TO DO IS STAY AFLOAT, THEY ARE THE ANCHOR THAT’S DROWNING YOU. ZABOOMAFU, YOU NEVER EVER HAVE TO FEEL GUILTY ABOUT REMOVING THE TOXIC AND NEGATIVE PEOPLE FROM YOUR LIFE. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF SOMEONE IS A RELATIVE, ROMANTIC INTEREST, CHILDHOOD FRIEND, OR NEW ACQUAINTANCE. YOU DON’T HAVE MAKE ANY ROOM FOR THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE YOU FEEL BAD, WHO MAKE YOU FEEL BROKEN FROM INSIDE, WHO ALWAYS TRY TO DISREGARD YOUR FEELINGS, AND WHO ALWAYS DISLIKED AND DISRESPECTED YOU AND YOUR EMOTIONS. YOU ARE GOOD TO THEM UNTIL YOU STOP WORKING FOR THEM, AND AS SOON AS YOU STOP WORKING FOR THEM, THEY WILL NOT REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID FOR THEM. ALL THEY WILL REMEMBER IS WHAT YOU DIDN’T DO FOR THEM. SUCH PEOPLE USE INNOCENT PEOPLE TO GET THEIR WORK DONE, AND WHEN THEIR WORK IS COMPLETED, THEY DO NOT EVEN ASK THOSE ABOUT THEIR WELL BEING. LET’S JUST SAY THESE PEOPLE ARE MEAN AND SELFISH RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING. THAT’S WHY TRY TO KEEP AWAY FROM THESE TOXIC PEOPLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE OF NEGATIVE ENERGY, AND THEY ALSO AFFECT OTHER PEOPLE WITH THEIR NEGATIVE ENERGY AND ACTIONS.”
SAYING ALL OF THIS AND BY GIVING THREE (3) VALUABLE LESSONS TO ZABOOMAFU ABOUT HOW TO HANDLE THE TOXIC PEOPLE IN HIS LIFE. THE ZEN MASTER CLOSES HIS DIVINE EYES AND BEGINS TO MEDITATE AGAIN.
ZABOOMAFU GETS UP AND THANKS THE MASTER FOR IMPARTING HIM WITH THESE THREE (3) INVALUABLE TEACHINGS ABOUT THE TOXIC PEOPLE, MOREOVER FOR HIS GUIDANCE AND SPIRITUAL SUPPORT.
AFTER BOWING DOWN RESPECTFULLY BEFORE THE MASTER, ZABOOMAFU RETURNED FROM THERE.
NOW, WHENEVER ZABOOMAFU ENCOUNTERED ANY NEGATIVE OR TOXIC PEOPLE IN HIS VILLAGE OR ANYWHERE ELSE THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE, HE NEVER RESPONDED TO THEM NOR THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT THOSE NEGATIVE PEOPLE WERE SAYING ABOUT HIM WHETHER IT WAS GOOD OR BAD.
SLOWLY, BY TAKING CONTROL OF HIS RELATIONSHIPS AND SURROUNDING HIMSELF WITH THE POSITIVITY, ZABOOMAFU WAS ABLE TO OVERCOME THE OBSTACLES IN HIS WAY AND ACHIEVE HIS GOALS.
AMEN.