The Parable Of The Two Arrows

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response…Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” -Viktor Frankl

There is a Buddhist proverb that goes something like this:

The Buddha once asked his student, “If a person is struck by an arrow, is it painful?”

The student nodded, yes.

The Buddha then asked, “If a person is struck by a second arrow, is that even more painful?”

The student again nodded, yes.

The Buddha then explained, “In life, we cannot always control the first arrow. However, the second arrow is our reaction to the first. The second arrow is optional.”

The first arrow is impossible to avoid. As long as we’re alive and walking this earth, we can expect some pain and suffering to enter our lives. Some arrows will come our way and pierce us and it will f-ing hurt.

The second arrow, however is entirely up to us. It reflects our beliefs and thoughts about the injury. We believe we didn’t deserve it. We wish we didn’t get struck by it. We wonder why it ever happened in the first place. We fear another arrow will come our way.

Don’t compound the first arrow with a second arrow. Instead, take a pause, reset and then when you’re ready, choose an empowered response. Lean into your resiliency. You will overcome this arrow and come out that much stronger.

That’s a wrap on 2025 folks. Thank you for reading, for commenting and for sharing. I hope this blog has brought you a little bit of joy and inspiration on your artistic and overall journey through life. May 2026 bring you much love, good health, happiness and creative fulfillment. I’m rooting for you!

Go make your art.