The story describes two Buddhist monks encountering a woman in need of help crossing a river. The older monk carries her across without hesitation, while the younger monk judges him for touching a woman against their teachings. However, the older monk explains that he put the woman down long ago, while the younger monk has continued carrying her burden in his mind. The document then suggests that people often continue carrying negative mental burdens from past experiences, which creates protective layers that repel opportunities and true human connection. However, one can overcome this by mentally redefining past events to feel more open and confident in the present.

2. There's a famous story of a couple of
Buddhists walking along a river.

3. They come around this curve, to
where they are going to cross.

4. And they see this hot girl in a bikini.

5. And the bikini girl says, "Will you help
me get across?"

6. The older Buddhist picks her up, and
carries her.

7. His younger companion looks kind of
butt-hurt.

8. After about couple miles down the
river, the younger Buddhist looks up.

9. Problem? Says the older Buddhist.

10. Yes, says younger guy. We aren't
supposed to touch women.

11. Ah, I see your problem, says the older
guy. I put her down way back there,
but you're still carrying her.

12. Ok, so may she wasn't a bikini girl in
the original story, but you get the idea.

13. Most of us are carrying things that
happened to us a LONG time ago.

14. That time you got up the nerve to talk
to that guy or girl, and got shot down.

15. The time in class when you asked an
honest question and the teacher
looked at you like you were speaking
nonsense.

16. Or any of the million other things that
left a negative impression.

17. That made you respond by covering up
your brilliance with a protective layer
of crap.

18. Now when you go out into the world,
that protective layer of gunk is still
there.

19. Most people see not you, but your
protective layer.

20. Which means they aren't really seeing
YOU. They're seeing your DEFENSE
SYSTEM.

21. And defense systems are NOT
designed to attract people, or
opportunities, or income.

22. They are designed to REPEL them.

23. What's worse, everybody ELSE has
their OWN defense system.

24. It's no wonder it's tough meeting
people.

25. Or saying what your really mean. Or
sharing your TRUE self.

26. It is also why it feels like nobody can
see the real you.

27. Not only can they NOT dig through
your protective layer, but they have to
get rid of THEIRS as well.

28. Which is why it SEEMS that you can
only "click" on those rare and
wonderful opportunities.

29. The GOOD NEWS is you can get rid of
that layer of protection pretty easily.

30. All you've got to do is go back in time
(mentally, of course) and RE-DEFINE
those early events.

31. So in the present, you'll feel much
more open and natural. And less
fearful.

32. So you can pick up bikini girls all over
the place. (Or whatever you'd like to
pick up, money, friends, new jobs, etc).

33. mindpersuasion.com/emotional-freedom/