The Parable of Growth: Be an Apple Tree That Grows Forever
An apple tree finally bore fruit.
In the first year, it bore 10 apples, and 9 were taken away, leaving it with just 1. The apple tree was indignant about this, so it cut off its own meridians and refused to grow further. In the second year, it bore 5 apples, 4 of which were taken away, leaving it with 1. "Ha ha, last year I got 10%, and this year I got 20%! It's doubled." The apple tree felt a sense of balance in its mind.
However, it could have done this instead: continue to grow. For example, in the second year, it could have borne 100 fruits, with 90 being taken away and it keeping 10.
It's very possible that it might have had 99 taken away, leaving it with just 1. But that doesn't matter; it can still continue to grow, bearing 1000 fruits in the third year...
In fact, how many fruits it gets isn't the most important thing. What's most important is that the apple tree is growing! When the apple tree grows into a towering giant, those forces that once hindered its growth will become so weak they can be ignored. Truly, don't worry too much about the fruits; growth is the most important thing.
[Psychological Comment] Are you a worker who has already cut off your own meridians?
When you first started working, you were brimming with talent and full of spirit, believing in the adage "Heaven endowed me with talents for a reason." But reality soon dealt you a few harsh blows. Perhaps, you made great contributions to your company but no one valued them; perhaps, you only received verbal recognition but no tangible benefits; or perhaps... In short, you feel like that apple tree, enjoying only a small part of the fruits of your labor, far from what you expected.
So, are you someone who has stopped striving? Or will you choose to keep growing like the apple tree?