The Persian Prince Who Thought He Was a Cow

This 1000-year-old forgotten story holds the key to influence and breakthrough thinking

"Moooooooo."

A Persian prince believed he was a cow.

He refused to eat. Mooed all day. Begged to be slaughtered for stew.

His family was desperate. His advisors were perplexed. Every healer, doctor, and scholar for miles around had tried various methods, be it logic, force, or persuasion.

All had failed.

Until the great Ibn Sina arrived.

He acted differently. He did not force him to snap out of his delusion.

Instead, he entered the prince’s world.

He studied him, to understand him better. And then, he acted.

Instead of resisting, he played along.

He sent word that the butcher was on his way.

He then "examined" the prince and solemnly declared:

“This cow is FAR too weak for slaughter. It MUST be fed first.”

So the prince ate.

Then he ate some more.

Slowly, his strength (and more importantly, his sanity) returned.

And just like that, he was cured.

For me, this famous story demonstrates a masterclass in wisdom, psychology, influence and problem-solving.

Ibn Sina didn’t didn’t impose logic, he reshaped perception.

He didn’t fight resistance, he redirected it.

He cured madness without medicine.

Sometimes the answer just requires a subtle shift in perspective.

People rarely change through force. They do change however, through reframing.

The greatest breakthroughs - in leadership, innovation, and transformation often happen when we change the way we see the problem.

Most people today sadly do the opposite:

They argue louder, or double down on bad ideas.

They resist new perspectives instead of adapting to reality.

Being able to shift perspective and reframe reality is a critical tool in your mental arsenal.

If you're struggling with any issue:

🚀 Reframe the problem. If your approach isn’t working, change the game.

🧠 Perception is power. The right mental shift can transform your reality.

🎯 Think beyond logic. The best solutions aren’t always the most obvious.

🌍 Work with human nature, not against it. Influence starts by entering someone’s world.

Ibn Sina was more than a great healer. He was also a master of thought.

Thinking out of the box in this way separates the smart from the average.

We all need to improve our thinking.

Every challenge, every obstacle, every setback, all depends on how you see it.

The prince believed he was a cow, and so he acted like one. His world was framed by that perception. It took a shift in perspective to bring him back to reality.

But isn’t that how most people live?

Trapped in a version of life that isn’t fully theirs, held back by false limitations, by narratives they’ve accepted without question.

But what if you could see things differently?

What if your biggest challenge isn’t the real problem, but simply the way you’re seeing it?

• Stuck in your career? Maybe the problem isn’t the job, it’s your approach.

• Feeling lost? Maybe you need to take a step back, before going forward.

• Facing resistance? Maybe the answer isn’t pushing harder, but thinking smarter.

This is why purpose changes everything.

When you understand your mission, you stop feeling trapped.

You stop seeing obstacles as dead ends, and start turning them into breakthroughs.

So, what problem in your life needs an Ibn Sina solution today?

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If you need some Ibn Sina style assistance and support with a problem you’re facing, you’re more than welcome to book a “Crossroads Consultation” with me. In this session, we go deep on any problem you’re struggling with, and help you to get to clarity and action. You can click here or the image below to book your session.