Oh, to be a frog in a well!

The Tao masters of ancient China describe a story about a frog born inside a well. The frog grows up believing that the well is the whole world and that is all there is. The tiny dot of light that appears at the top is the sun which appears occasionally. The frog grows up knowing only slime, algae and insects around him. He is very happy until a bird flies down and invites him to explore the real world outside the well. The frog does so and realizes that he has spent most of his life in a situation thinking that to be the sum and substance of existence. The real world is infinitely larger and prettier than what he had seen till then. What a fool has was!

The term “frog in a well” is used to denote a person who cannot or deliberately refuses to see the big picture because of being sheltered and close-minded. It is a term used to belittle those who are fixated on ideas they are best comfortable in. Such people refuse to understand, or even listen to, any opposing point of view.

In our corporate life, as well as in life in general, it is advised that one should not become a frog in the well. It will restrict a wider view and not allow the mind to accept alternatives. A sense of pompousness may creep in and one is looked down upon by others.

Personally, I think it is the best place to be. Just imagine. You are a frog in a well. You are probably the king there. You are one happy amphibian because you have the extreme satisfaction of having been there done that. Opening the boundaries and coming out of your well is likely to be a recipe for disaster. The introduction of external factors, which are far superior are likely bring in an element of deep anguish. Your bubble will suddenly burst and you will be shown a depressive portrait of reality. An element that was introduced to give joy and enhance you as a frog-person will have just the opposite effect.

It turns out that the well was/is a better place to be than is generally made out. There is a great symbiotic affinity in there. The frogs eat all the bugs they can find; and all the bugs eat all the frogs that die. Fantastic binomial equation. I'd rather be a happy frog in a well as opposed to being a miserable frog lost in a crazy world.