An old man said:
Once, a brother was badly tempted by thoughts for nine years so that, as a result, he despaired of his own salvation and condemned himself, saying: I have destroyed my soul. Since I've destroyed it, I'm going to return to the world.
While he was on his way back to the world, a voice came to him on the road, saying: Those nine years that you were tempted were your crowns. Therefore return where you were and I will relieve you of your thoughts.
Do you see that it isn't good for someone to fall into despair on account of thoughts? Instead, these thoughts weave crowns for us and place them on our heads if we successfully deal with them.
An Angry Brother
A brother was a hesychast in a cenobium and was often moved to anger. So, he said to himself: I will leave and go live by myself. And because I won't have anything to do with anyone and will be at peace, my passion will cease. So, he left and lived in a cave by himself.
One day, he filled a small jug with water and put it on the ground, and all of a sudden, it fell over. He picked it up and filled it a second time, and again, it fell over. Then he filled it a third time and it fell over. Enraged, he grabbed hold of the jug and broke it.
When he came to himself, he knew that he had been mocked by the demon and said: I've left and gone to live by myself and even here I've been defeated. Therefore I will return to the cenobium. There needs to be struggle and patient endurance and God's help everywhere.
And he got up and returned to his cenobium.