There’s a story I read to my children, an old piece of African folklore. In the tale, a clever jackal outwits a mighty lion by convincing him that the rock ledge above them is about to collapse.
The lion, believing the jackal’s warning, uses all his strength to push up against the rock, holding it in place. The jackal promises to return with a branch to support the ledge, but instead, he makes his escape.
Hours later, exhausted, the lion finally collapses, throwing his paws over his head in fear—only to realize the rock was never going to fall.
It had been holding itself up all along. By believing the jackal’s story, the lion not only lost his chance at a meal but also drained himself completely.