Mindset story: What can you learn from a thousand mirrors about attitude

In a peaceful village nestled between towering mountains and lush green fields, there was a mysterious place known as The Palace of 1,000 Mirrors. It was said that whoever entered this palace would see something truly magical. People in the village often spoke about it in hushed voices, each with their own stories about what they had seen inside. Some claimed it was a place filled with light and happiness, while others said it was cold and unwelcoming. But no one could explain exactly why their experiences were so different.

One day, a young, happy, and energetic little puppy heard the villagers talking about the palace. His eyes sparkled with curiosity, and his tail wagged with excitement. He loved meeting new friends and discovering new places, so without a second thought, he decided to visit. As he arrived at the grand entrance of the palace, he saw its tall wooden doors standing wide open. He eagerly bounced up the steep stone stairs, his paws making soft tapping sounds as he ran. His ears perked up, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth in pure joy. The moment he stepped inside, he gasped in surprise. All around him, in every direction, he saw 1,000 other happy dogs, their tails wagging just as fast as his. They had bright, friendly eyes, and every single one of them was smiling back at him. The little puppy’s excitement grew even more. He playfully barked, and to his delight, the 1,000 dogs barked back in the same cheerful way. He wagged his tail even faster, and so did they. He bounced around the room, and they all mirrored his every movement. “This place is wonderful!” he thought. “Everyone here is so happy and friendly, just like me! I must come back again soon.” With his heart full of joy, he left the palace, running back to the village with an even bigger smile than before. 

In the same village, there was another dog, an older dog. He was not like the playful young puppy. He was often grumpy, always frowning, and rarely wagged his tail. He believed the world was a cold and unfriendly place, and he often complained that others were rude and unkind. One day, he heard about the Palace of 1,000 Mirrors and scoffed. “I bet it’s just another disappointing place,” he muttered to himself. But his curiosity got the better of him, and he decided to visit the place just to prove that it wasn’t as special as everyone claimed. With his head hung low and his ears drooping, he walked slowly up the palace stairs. His face was set in a deep frown, and he let out a small grumble as he entered the doorway. As he lifted his eyes, what he saw made him stop in his tracks. All around him were 1,000 other dogs, each one frowning just as deeply as he was. Their eyes looked cold, their tails were still, and none of them looked the least bit friendly. The old dog growled, feeling uncomfortable. But to his shock, the 1,000 dogs growled right back at him. He bared his teeth in warning, and they did the same. He took a step back, suddenly frightened. The more he scowled, the more unfriendly they looked. “This place is awful,” he thought as he quickly turned and hurried out the door. “Everyone here is mean and unfriendly. I will never come back again!” With a deep sigh, he walked back to the village, feeling even grumpier than before.

The villagers continued to talk about the palace, sharing different stories of what they had experienced there. Some, like the young puppy, described it as the most welcoming place they had ever seen. Others, like the grumpy old dog, warned that it was a cold and unkind place. But the truth was simple, the Palace of 1,000 Mirrors did not create happiness or sadness it simply reflected back what each visitor brought into it. The puppy, full of joy and warmth, saw a thousand joyful and warm reflections looking back at him. The old dog, filled with negativity and suspicion, saw a thousand unfriendly and cold reflections staring him down.