Ari’s Three Choices: Journey to the Sweet Spot

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 One afternoon, Ari sat under the shade of a tall tree, her knees pulled to her chest. She felt restless. Three different paths stretched out in her imagination, and each one tugged at her in a different way.

“Guru,” she whispered, “I don’t know what to do.”

Guru appeared beside her, calm and kind. “What choices are before you, little one?”

Ari’s brow furrowed. “The first path is the one I already know—familiar, safe, easy. The second path is the complete opposite—strange and exciting, but scary too. The third path is no path at all… just waiting, because I don’t know what to choose.”

Guru’s eyes softened. “All three are real choices. The familiar brings comfort, but may not stretch you. The opposite brings discovery, but also risk. Waiting gives time, but it can also keep you stuck.”

Ari hugged her knees tighter. “But how will I know what’s right? How do I find that place between being too patient and rushing ahead?”

Guru leaned closer, voice gentle as a breeze. “You’ll know when you feel a quiet calm inside you. Not the push of fear, not the thrill of excitement, but a soft ‘aha.’ That balance is your sweet spot.”

Something in Ari’s heart loosened. She realized the sweet spot wasn’t about forcing clarity—it was about trusting herself. About letting the right choice rise gently, like a bird lifting into the sky, carried by calm instead of urgency.

Guru added softly, “Even when the bigger choice feels unclear, you can still move, little one. Ask yourself: What small step can I take right now, before thought clouds the way? Choose one gentle action, and let it lead you. With calm, your heart will find its balance.”

Ari’s chest fluttered with warmth, her eyes widening. This was no longer just about choices—it was an invitation to dance with life, one calm step at a time.

by Soo Kyung Kim



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