Have you ever been sad because you failed in something? If so, please remember, for often, achieving what you expect is not the most_____thing.

One day, after watching a science program, a little boy_____to dig a hole behind his house. As he was working, a couple of boys stopped by to watch. "What are you doing?" asked one of them. "I want to dig a hole all the way through the_____!" the boy answered excitedly. The older boys laughed and told him that it was impossible to do it. Then they left.

The little boy kept on digging and digging. Suddenly, a few small colorful stones caught his eyes. He_____them and put them into a glass jar (罐子) patiently. The jar was full soon. Then the boy went to the older boys with the jar and said_____, "Maybe I can't finish digging all the way through the earth, but look at what I have found in the process (过程) of digging!"

The boy's goal was too difficult, but it caused him to_____, in other words, to cause us to keep working!

Not every goal will be achieved. When you can't achieve your goal, maybe you can say, "Yes, but there are so many wonderful things that have come into my life_____I tried to do something!" It is the unexpected joy on the journey that really has a_____. Just like the little boy, it is in the digging that life is lived.

One day a young man named Gary went to see a wise old man. He wanted to know why he wasn’t able to ______ all of his life goals.

He found the old man ______ in a small house by the river with a book in his hand. The wise man listened to Gary’s ______ and told him softly, “First come and help me boil a kettle (水壶) of water!”

Gary saw a big kettle standing in the corner next to a small stove (火炉), but he didn’t see any wood. So he went out to ______ some.

He came back with some dry wood, filled up the kettle with water and put it ______ the stove. Then he put some wood in the stove and started a fire. However, because the kettle was too ______, when the wood burned up, the water did not boil. ______ he ran off to get more. The water had nearly turned ______ when he returned. This time he learned his ______, and prepared more wood in advance (提前). This time the water boiled very quickly.

“If there is not ______ wood, how would you boil the water?” the wise man asked.

Gary ______ for a moment, but didn’t know the answer, so he shook his head.

“Well, then just pour out some water from the kettle!” the old man said. Gary nodded, but still had no idea ______ the man meant.

“At first, you had so many dreams and ______ too many goals,” the old man said, “It’s just like the big ______ full of water. You didn’t have enough wood, so you couldn’t ______ the water. If you want to make the water boil, then you will have to either pour some out or prepare more wood!”

Thirty engineers were working as a team in a company. One day, the manager decided to teach them about finding ______ ways of solving problems. The team was called for a ______ in a hall. They were surprised and all reached the hall holding several different ______. As they entered, they found a box full of flat (瘪了的) balloons placed on the floor.

The manager asked everyone to ______ a balloon and blow it up. Then they were asked to write their names on their own balloons ______ so that the balloons wouldn’t blow out. All tried, but not everyone was ______. Five balloons blew out because of pressure.

Those who failed weren’t allowed to continue the game. As a result, 25 engineers came to the next level. All the balloons carrying their names were ______ and then put into a room.

The engineers were told to pick the balloon with his or her name on. All the 25 engineers began to ______ their own balloons in a rush. It was almost 15 minutes but nobody was ______ to find the right one. The second level of the game was over.

Then came the final level. The engineers were asked to pick any balloon and give it to the person named on the balloon. Within a couple of minutes, all balloons ______ the hands of the engineers.

The manager announced this was the real ways of solving problems. Many times in our life sharing and helping others give us real ways of solving problems.