Mindset story: The Painted Jackal – A story About Honesty, Deception, and True Identity

Once upon a time, not far from a bustling little town, there lived a jackal. Every night, when the world was fast asleep, he would sneak into the empty streets and alleys, searching for scraps of food like old bones, leftover bread, anything he could find. Life was tough for him, but he managed, scavenging what others had thrown away. One night, as he wandered through the town, his nose led him to a dye shop. The place was dark, and the air was thick with the smell of colors. As he sniffed around, his paws slipped, and before he knew it, he had fallen into a large vat filled with dye. The liquid soaked through his fur, making it heavy and difficult to move. Struggling to climb out, he lost his footing again and tumbled into another vat, and then another, each time getting drenched in a new color. When he finally staggered out of the shop, the night’s adventure had left him covered in bright, dazzling shades of red, blue, green, yellow, and more. He no longer looked like an ordinary jackal, he had become a creature of many colors. The next morning, as he stepped into the sunlight, he caught his reflection in a puddle. His fur gleamed like a rainbow. He hardly recognized himself. As he wandered into the forest, other animals noticed him and were struck with awe. Among them was a lion, the mighty king of the animals, who, upon seeing the vibrantly painted creature, lowered his head slightly in respect.

“Who are you?” the lion asked, his voice filled with curiosity. “I have never seen an animal as magnificent as you.” The jackal, realizing the opportunity before him, straightened his posture and thought to himself, “Even the lion does not recognize me. Perhaps this is my chance to be someone greater.” And so, in a loud and confident voice, he declared, “I am no ordinary beast. I am the Peacock of Heaven, sent to rule over all animals.” The news of the strange and beautiful creature spread quickly. Animals from all over came to admire him. The lion, tiger, leopard, and hyena, once rulers themselves, accepted his claim. “Surely, an animal so unique must be special,” they reasoned. And so, they crowned him as their new king. A grand celebration followed. The animals prepared a feast, bowing before their new ruler, eager to serve him. The painted jackal sat on the throne, enjoying his new status. He issued commands, and the others obeyed. For the first time in his life, he was not a scavenger, but a somebody, and not just a somebody but a king. Days passed, and the jackal grew accustomed to his life of luxury. He forgot his old self the hungry, wandering creature he had once been. But one evening, as he sat on his throne surrounded by his court, a familiar sound drifted through the air. A pack of jackals, his own kind, had gathered in a nearby garden, their voices rising in a chorus of howls.

The sound struck something deep within him. Without thinking, he lifted his head and joined in their howling. It was instinctive, natural, something he had always done. But the moment his voice echoed through the court, a stunned silence followed. The lion’s mane bristled as realization dawned on him. “This is no peacock of heaven,” he roared. “This is a jackal, just like any other! He has tricked us all!” The tiger snarled in agreement, the leopard’s tail lashed, and the hyena bared his teeth. Anger surged through the animals who had been deceived. The lion leaped forward, his claws swiping at the jackal’s fur, ripping away the layers of dried paint. One by one, the colors disappeared, revealing the plain, dusty coat beneath. The jackal trembled, knowing his deception had come to an end. Stripped of his disguise, he was no king, he was just an ordinary scavenger who had let greed and pride cloud his judgment. The animals, enraged by his trickery, chased him out of the forest, never allowing him to return.