Life is all about changing and learning. When we aren’t growing we can get hit with what I call the “cosmic two by four.” These types of traumas in our adult lives can look like the breakup of a relationship, being diagnosed with a frightening disease, or the loss of a job. That kind of journey into the depths of despair can also be seen as life throwing us into a full course correction. Many traditions speak of the momentous shifts coming from these traumas as a “Zen Slap” or a “Shaman’s Blow.” Here’s a parable that helps to illustrate this idea.