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Read more...Life has a curious way of testing us—not always to break us, but to reveal who we truly are under pressure. There’s a timeless story that beautifully illustrates this truth using three everyday kitchen items: a potato, an egg, and coffee powder.
The Story
A young woman, weary of life's challenges, went to her grandmother seeking guidance. She shared how she was tired of struggling and how problems never seemed to end. Her grandmother listened calmly and then took her into the kitchen.
She filled three pots with water and placed them on the stove. In one, she dropped potatoes, in the second, eggs, and in the third, ground coffee. She let them boil for some time without saying a word.
After 20 minutes, she turned off the heat. She took out the potatoes and placed them in a bowl. She did the same with the eggs. Then she ladled the coffee into a cup.
She turned to her granddaughter and asked,
"What do you see?"
"What do you see?"
“Potatoes, eggs, and coffee,” the girl replied.
Her grandmother brought her closer and asked her to touch them. She did.
The potatoes were soft.
The egg had become hard-boiled.
The coffee… had transformed the water itself into something rich and aromatic.
The egg had become hard-boiled.
The coffee… had transformed the water itself into something rich and aromatic.
The grandmother smiled and said,
"Each of these faced the same adversity—the boiling water. But each reacted differently. The potato went in strong and unrelenting, but became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with a liquid interior, but it hardened. And the coffee? It transformed the water into something better. Which one are you?"
"Each of these faced the same adversity—the boiling water. But each reacted differently. The potato went in strong and unrelenting, but became soft and weak. The egg was fragile, with a liquid interior, but it hardened. And the coffee? It transformed the water into something better. Which one are you?"
The Moral of the Story
- We All Face “Boiling Water”
Life throws us into challenging situations—loss, failure, heartbreak, uncertainty. These external forces are beyond our control. But our reaction to them is what defines us. - Becoming Soft: The Potato Response
Some of us enter hardship feeling strong, only to crumble under the weight. We lose our resilience, letting the situation strip away our strength and hope. - Becoming Hard: The Egg Response
Others become cold and emotionally distant. We build walls and armor ourselves, but at the cost of vulnerability, softness, and connection. - Becoming Transformative: The Coffee Response
But a rare few, like the coffee, transform the environment. They rise above the situation and turn adversity into opportunity. They don’t just survive the challenge—they change it, enrich it, and come out stronger, wiser, and more impactful. - The Power of Inner Alchemy
The coffee didn’t just adapt—it influenced. True strength doesn’t lie in resistance or retreat, but in transformation. Just like the coffee, we can use pressure to release our inner essence—the aroma of compassion, strength, and wisdom.
Final Thoughts
So when life gets tough—and it will—ask yourself:
Am I a potato, an egg, or coffee?
Will you let hardship make you weak, harden your heart, or inspire you to rise, grow, and turn the heat into healing?
Choose wisely. And maybe… start your day with a cup of coffee to remind yourself: pressure reveals your flavor.
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