I think this story will illustrate a certain point that may be helpful in the time to come. It may or may not make sense now…and I trust that eventually it will make sense to you in shaping your thinking.

There was a wind whose job it was to deliver messages across the land. He would deliver messages to the other living things about things to come and how things were to be done for greatest prosperity. The wind figured, as many might, that the best way to deliver the messages was to do it as efficiently as possible. He decided that the way he would accomplish this was to blow really fast and hard across the land. He chose to be like a cyclone. He would blow across the land, delivering messages quickly without care for how he delivered them. He hadn’t noticed, yet, that the other living things were a little unhappy with this method of delivering messages to them. Sometimes they would even do the opposite of what he said to do. Inevitably, there were some living things that became less healthy as a result of the him tearing across the land. He noticed this but thought it was inevitable. He didn’t know any other way to deliver the messages.

And so the wind continued to tear across the land as a cyclone until one day he met a wise cloud. The wise cloud saw a lot of potential in the wind. He saw that the wind truly had a kind and gentle heart. Then upon seeing how the wind delivered messages as a cyclone, the wise cloud asked, "Wind, you are kind and gentle, yet you act as a cyclone. Why is that?" The wind answered, "That is the way I have always done it?" Then the cloud asked, "So what caused you to begin to do it that way?"

The wind thought for a little while and finally said, "I guess because it seemed most efficient, and that is the way I have seen others do it." The cloud smiled and said, "Yes, that is true. It certainly appears to be efficient. You are also correct that others do use that method. And I can tell you have practised this method for quite some time. You have been executing the delivery of your messages exactly as a cyclone should." The wind smiled.

"So what are some of the benefits of delivering the messages as a cyclone?" "Well, I get it done quickly and when I blow by, the other living things notice my message." With a twinkle in its eye, the cloud agreed "You are absolutely right."

Then the cloud asked, "What are some of the other effects that you notice about delivering the message as a cyclone?" The wind replied, "Well, I have noticed that the other living things sometimes become unhappy and hurt by some of the messages that I have for them. I guess they should just learn to become tougher." The cloud said, "You are very observant, wind. Others sometimes do become unhappy and hurt. The one thing that you may want to think about now is that it may not be so much the message that is challenging for them to hear, rather the way in which it is delivered." "What do you mean," asked the wind. "Well, what would happen if you delivered the same messages to the other living things in a way that would help them grow and that would get them to respond even better? If I showed you such a way, would you be interested now?" "Oh, of course!!"

"This method is already being practised by the wisest of the winds. This method is simple and effective, leading to more growth and prosperity in the long run which is truly what you seek, is that right?" "Yes, yes…tell me, what is the method?" said the wind with brimming curiosity.

After a long pause, the cloud said, "Deliver the messages as a gentle breeze and you will notice that the others respond in a much different way." "That’s it. That’s the great method? You have got to be kidding. Where is the efficiency in that? A gentle breeze blows lightly and doesn’t whip across the land nearly as fast as a cyclone."

"Let me ask you a question, wind. What do you want - efficiency or effectiveness?" "What’s the difference?" "Efficiency is the speed at which something gets done. It doesn’t have anything to do with the quality of results you will get. Effectiveness is actually the measure of how well something gets done, taking into account the long-term effects of the actions." "Well, I guess I want effectiveness…but what about efficiency?" "By practising effectiveness, you automatically practice efficiency, but in a broader way. Effective communication with the other living things involves delivering the messages in a different way than the one just interested in efficiency. Effective communication has to do with delivering the messages in a supportive, caring way that allows the other living things to grow and prosper. This ultimately means that they will be able to be more productive, right?" "Yeah, I guess I never thought of it like that."

"I understand, wind. You were just doing things the best way that you knew. You looked around at what the others were doing and you figured that they were doing it right. You made the best decision that you could at the time. And now you have another way…" "A more effective way" the wind interjects. "Yes, as the wise ones before you have discovered, this is a way that brings more growth and prosperity to the land. However, the only real way to find out if it works is to have the courage to try something new."

"Remember, you are the wind, you will always be the wind. You are not a cyclone or a breeze. You are not the methods that you use to deliver the messages. You are more than your methods. Therefore, you can always remain who you are and change the methods that you use. And with that, the wise cloud and the wind parted.

The wind thought about what the wise cloud had said. "What if this is a better way? How will the other living things respond if I act like a gentle breeze? Will they think less of me? How will they respond if I become more gentle now? Will there really be more prosperity and growth if I deliver the messages in a different way? Won’t I find it challenging?" The wind paused and thought about how his language was already starting to change. "Isn’t it interesting how the word ‘challenging’ gives me a different way of thinking about it than when I used to say ‘problem’. And with that, the wind carried on its way.

Even though the wind knew another way to do things, he kept acting as a cyclone. It was familiar, easy, and comfortable. It was what he knew. And yet he began noticing even more the damage he was doing to the other living things. He began to see how his methods created unhappiness and hurt other living things around him. "What will they think if I change?" Another week went by, then another month. He knew the other method, but he was scared. So he put it off. Occasionally on his gusts through the lands, he thought he saw the wise cloud out of the corner of his wind only to discover he had vanished. He wanted support. "What if I do it wrong and I screw things up? How will I know when I’m doing it right? What if it doesn’t work?" The wind continued to communicate the same old way, getting the same old results.

As he noticed the progress, he acted more and more like a gentle breeze. He noticed that the living things were starting to really like when he came around because they realised that he was changing now. They realised that he was there to help them grow and prosper.

As a gentle breeze, he was effective in touching the lives of the other living things more deeply than he ever had when he used to act like a cyclone.

Over time, the wind began to see the wisdom of the cloud. He noticed the growth and prosperity of the land became greater than the wind had ever thought possible.

He also understands "Winds can take many forms, all having their rewards and challenges." Looking back on the changes he has made, he realises the most challenging part was discovering his courage to change. Now greater prosperity flourished in the land. Now he found that, in his interactions with the other living things, the only challenging part had become simply remaining a gentle breeze through the tough times. And always after doing so, he found that the other living things have more respect for him as he remains gentle consistently now.

Yes, things have changed for the wind. And as a result of simply changing the way he communicated with the other living things, more prosperity had swept the entire land. He understands that all anyone needs to improve is knowledge and the courage to make changes now.