The fable of the Scorpion and the Frog is a cautionary tale that teaches a lesson about the dangers of trusting those with a reputation for being untrustworthy.
A scorpion sits on the edge of a river bank and wants to cross a river but of course, scorpions can't swim. After a while, a frog approaches the river to cross it while wary of the scorpion. Seizing the chance the scorpion, asks the frog to carry it across.
The frog hesitates, afraid that the scorpion might sting. After some convincing, the scorpion promises not to by pointing out that they would both drown if he stung the frog in the middle of the river. The frog considers this argument as sensible and agrees to swim the scorpion across. Surly the scorpion would sacrifice its own life so, the frog lets the scorpion climb on its back and begins to swim it across.
Midway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog, dooming them both. The dying frog asks the scorpion.
The frog groans, "Why did you sting me knowing that you would kill us both you said you wouldn't?"
The scorpion replies, "I'm a scorpion."
This situation might be more common than you think. In the real world, wary people get taken all the time and believe things they hear because they make sense. Words and actions are two different things and the moral of the story is knowing who you are dealing with by the person's actions rather than their words.
It's not up to the frog to change the scorpion. It's up to the frog to know who it's dealing with. A scorpion is a dangerous animal no matter what it says, it's in its nature to sting.
You cannot change people. They are who they are until they want to change themselves. They have to be ready to do this as well. No amount of prompting to make a person change will do this. They have to be ready on their own. The same rule applies to yourself. In the meantime know who you are dealing with
"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." -Maya Angelou
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