Once, there was a very strict teacher who took great pride in pushing his students to work hard. His discipline was well-known, and the students often felt exhausted by the constant pressure. When the teacher fell ill one day and took a few days off, the students secretly celebrated their brief freedom from his rigorous schedule.
While the teacher was away, the students came up with a plan. They decided that when he returned, they would each tell him he still looked unwell, hoping to convince him to take more time off. They thought it would be fun to see if they could fool their strict teacher into believing he was sicker than he was.
When the teacher returned to the classroom, one student stood up, greeted him, and said, “Teacher, I hope you’re feeling better, but you still look a little pale today.” The teacher, surprised but not alarmed, nodded and continued with the lesson.
Soon after, another student rose and said, “Teacher, I hope you’re recovering, but you still don’t look well. Perhaps you should rest more.” The teacher started to feel uneasy. He had thought he was fully recovered, but the comments made him second-guess himself.
As the day went on, more students took turns greeting him and making similar remarks. “Teacher, you seem to be struggling today,” one said. “You should really rest, sir,” another chimed in.
By the end of the day, the teacher was convinced he was still very sick. He left school early, went straight home, and told his wife, “I thought I was better, but the students could see how sick I still am. I need to lie down.”
His wife, surprised, insisted he looked fine. “You’re healthy, dear. Maybe it’s just in your head.”
The teacher, however, refused to believe her. “How can you say that? My students saw it clearly—I’m not well!” He lay down, wrapping himself in blankets, convinced he was still ill.
The next day, the parents of the students, hearing about the teacher’s supposed illness, came to visit him. They were concerned but found him resting comfortably at home. Despite their reassurances, the teacher remained convinced he was unwell, thanks to the students’ prank.
After the parents left, they shook their heads and said, “It’s amazing how a person can be healthy in body but sick in mind, simply because of what others make them believe.”
Life Lesson:
The story teaches that false beliefs, when reinforced repeatedly, can create illusions in a person’s mind. Even when there is no real problem, one can be convinced of their misfortune if they let others shape their reality. It’s important to trust oneself and not be easily swayed by external opinions or perceptions.
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