Someone told a man with many woes and troubles that a wise man lived up on a certain mountain and might be able to help him.

So, the man hiked up the mountain and found the wise old man, who was sporting long white hair and a full white beard.

After telling the wise man his problems, the old man replied, “Do you see that huge boulder just down the mountain? Go down there and leave your problems at its base. But there is one requirement: You must pick up someone else’s problems and take them down the mountain with you. Choose carefully, my son.”

After four hours, the man came back up to the wise man.

He spoke: “You know, I couldn’t find any problems down there that were smaller than mine. So, if it’s all right with you, I’ll just keep my own problems, and take them back down the mountain with me.”

The old man smiled and replied, “Go in peace, my son.”