“The mind is like an iceberg; it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water.” Freud
Greenland, an island in the Arctic Ocean, is a country dominated by ice, with more than 80% of its total area covered with ice. Icebergs here range in size from as small as a house to as massive as the downtown area of New York City. As icebergs break off from glaciers, they slowly move along ocean currents, melting gradually until they eventually disappear.
Many tourists visit Greenland to witness these spectacular icebergs. However, what they see is only a fraction of the whole. Typically, only about 10% of an iceberg is visible above the water, embodying the saying, “The tip of the iceberg.” The vast majority remains hidden beneath the surface, and this submerged mass is what primarily directs its movement along the deep ocean currents. In contrast, smaller icebergs, influenced by passing winds and gentle waves, drift in varying directions.
This phenomenon mirrors our own hearts and minds. When our inner depths are shallow, we chase fleeting pleasures and immediate gains, wandering aimlessly. To find direction and purpose, we must cultivate and fill the deeper parts of our hearts.