All trainers look for openers when opening each session. Here is one of them you can use. Here is a story that can be used as an illustration, class opener or class closer...worked well for me.

Even Chickens Struggle : It takes about 21 days for a chick to develop inside a fertile egg; the egg must be kept warm by either the hen (mum) or in an incubator.

Before the chick can hatch from the security of its' shell, it must first face a huge struggle. Using an "egg-tooth" on its beak, the chick slowly begins to peck a hole in the shell. This arduous process takes many difficult hours, requiring the little chick to stop often... and rest.

Struggling and turning within the shell, the chick eventually pecks a crack all way around. The struggle intensifies as it then begins to push with its body and feet to make the crack bigger. Exhausted, yet determined, the chick finally breaks apart the shell and begins yet another struggle... to pull itself out. Soon, the tired, wet chick flops down for a well
deserved rest.

Some two hours later, with feathers now dry, an active, fluffy baby chick is ready to face a new beginning (it will be about another 6 months before the chick is fully grown).

Even chickens struggle... and it is this very struggle that builds the strength required for the chick to survive its' future. If we were to help that chick break out of its' shell (say with a teaspoon)... the chick would die within no time of getting out.

The struggles we face daily have the power to either make us or break us... it's all in our attitude. Are the obstacles we face in life

(a) stepping stones... helping us grow to the next level or
(b) tombstones... burying us in despair?

Remember... it isn't what happens to us in life that determines who we become; it's what we do with what happens!

Warm Regards,

Priyanka

Hi Priyanka,

That's a good one which.I would use it at the close of any training session. Here's another one that would provoke people to look internally and discover somethings about themselves. Maybe. and I invite feedback on this.

Have a happy day

Regards

R.Venkatesh

DELUSION

One decides to do a thing and is immediately reminded of a hundred other things that apparently become Top Priority; but are, in reality, only meant for confusing one’s original purpose.
One should only laugh at this play of delusion.
Oh, wonderful Maya!
She works in multifarious ways and directions at every level of consciousness, weaving her webs of distraction and enchantment.
She will use any and many stratagems to overcome and weaken a mind full of purpose.
She is wily.
She will back away from conscious alertness.
She will attack the weary, the unwary and the weak.
She will ride rampant when the eyelids open at dawn.
She is NOT the mind; but she works through it.
She is the heavenly distractor in our journey to Go(o)dness.
She is the tester of mettle, of fortitude, of strength, of will, of purpose, of determination.
And when one overcomes Her even a tiny bit, one gets a vision of what lies beyond. It turns out to be a mirror- a mirror that reflects a different you, a Higher You.
Maya, in the end, shows you as YOU.

  Hi Priyanka,

  That's a good one. I'll remember to add that story to my sessions. I am sending a small piece which I wrote this morning. This also maybe apt for your trainees. It's called Delusion. ( I had sent u a mail this morning but I think I forgot to copy the attachment. Hence, am sending it again)

Regards

R.Venkatesh

DELUSION

One decides to do a thing and is immediately reminded of a hundred other things that apparently become Top Priority; but are, in reality, only meant for confusing one’s original purpose.
One should only laugh at this play of delusion.
Oh, wonderful Maya!
She works in multifarious ways and directions at every level of consciousness, weaving her webs of distraction and enchantment.
She will use any and many stratagems to overcome and weaken a mind full of purpose.
She is wily.
She will back away from conscious alertness.
She will attack the weary, the unwary and the weak.
She will ride rampant when the eyelids open at dawn.
She is NOT the mind; but she works through it.
She is the heavenly distractor in our journey to Go(o)dness.
She is the tester of mettle, of fortitude, of strength, of will, of purpose, of determination.
And when one overcomes Her even a tiny bit, one gets a vision of what lies beyond. It turns out to be a mirror- a mirror that reflects a different you, a Higher You.
Maya, in the end, shows you as YOU.

Hi Venkatesh & Colleagues,

If we ask anyone - Are you disturbed? Most people will say yes to that question. Don’t worry they are not alone. The bondage that keeps us entangled in the world outside and disturbed in the world inside – are Desires or Maya in which human inhibitions are trapped. It's Maya only that sometimes controls the inhibits of human behavior.

As rightly put up by your fabulous work of 'delusion', Maya, in the end, shows you as YOU.

Meera