Saturday, July 17, 2010

Want To Be A Chicken Or An Eagle?

I always felt our thinking plays such a huge role in how we operate on a daily basis but seldom do we realize it. There are many people who will never experience the joy of success, all because they have already decided that, success is going to be too hard for them and that it is only there for a few lucky people.

Once after my training session got over, a participant came over and said, " I will never be able to speak like you". You know, he is exactly right! He never will. Not because I am any better or smarter than he is. But because he has already made up his mind. His thinking controls his actions, which in turn will control his outcomes. His mindset has determined his end result.

To make things clear, let me share with you a simple but powerful story. Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle's nest rested. The eagle's nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain, to a chicken farm, located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle's egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg.

One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. "Oh," the eagle cried, "I wish I could soar like those birds." The chickens roared with laughter, "You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar."

The eagle continued staring, at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them. Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn't be done. That is what the eagle learned to believe. The eagle, after some time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. Finally, after a long life as a chicken, the eagle passed away.

The moral of the story is very simple, we become what we believe we are. For this, we need to be aware of who we are, what we are capable of doing, rather, define our identity which will keep us focused as we set our priorities, organize tasks, deal with emergencies, and accomplish challenges in our personal and business lives.

How can we make ourselves realize that, we are not just chickens but we are eagles both in our personal and professional lives? Let me share with you some simple tips :

1) Believe in ourselves : Allow only positive thoughts to dominate our thinking such as, I am worthy, I like myself, I am strong & self secure, I can handle what comes my way & I know the future holds opportunities for me.
2) Overcome fear : Fear creates stress, panic and anxiety. Fear defeats our plans and goals. Over come it by building self-confidence. Identify our fears then take action. Once we start to do something, our fears will disappear.
3) Build on failures and mistakes : Socrates once remarked that there is more risk in buying knowledge than buying food. He is correct. If we purchase spoiled meat, we throw it out, not allowing it to harm our body. But ideas imprinted on the mind are not so easily dislodged. Once we learn from our failures and mistakes, they should be discarded like spoiled food.
4) Welcome challenges : Challenges are opportunities to break out of the routine of our job and expand our skills. Challenges can be spring boards to professional growth if they are welcomed as opportunities rather than tolerated as nuisances.
5) Take pride in achievements: As we progress in life, it is important to take pride in our achievements. Though we cannot overlook the problems of tomorrow, we should not forget to celebrate the successes of today.
6) Visualize success : As clearly and vividly as we can, we should visualize the rewards of our success in our mind. Make it such a good picture that we'll do almost anything to be part of it.
7) Be flexible : Sometimes, lack of self-motivation is because of failure to adapt or change. The solution to this may be flexibility- a willingness to adapt goals so they more nearly fit our values and skills.
8) Start now : Get in motion as soon as possible, and as our momentum builds, so will our motivation.

I believe, in life, what we focus on is all that we will see and gain. If we believe we cannot, we never will. It's time to unleash the potential inside us, realize who we are, what we are capable of. We can choose to live as a chicken who will always look up and envy the mighty eagle or we can be an eagle and enjoy the thrill of soaring in the sky.

Time to decide, Chicken or Eagle - choice is all yours!
Shamim

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have gone through your first article and it was wonderful and interesting.

Dr.Biju Chemprathy

Anonymous said...

Dear Shamim,

Thanks a lot on those articles, its good. Keep it up.looking forward for such mails.

Regards
Rtn.Raphy John
Pres. R.C.of Trichur Central

Anonymous said...

Dear Shamim,

Really powerful message, keep it up. Makes me proud to be your friend!

Regards,
Dr P Anoop; MBBS MD DCH MRCPCH FRCPath
Dept of Paediatric Haematology
St George's Hospital
London SW17 0QT
United Kingdom

Anonymous said...

hi shameem!

great article. i read dan browns - lost symbol, and ultimately the symbol says "know ye not that ye are Gods!" . your article says just that.
keep writing.

Anonymous said...

oh, the dan brown guy is hinfas (cochin knights)

NRPai said...

Shamim,
A great truth conveyed very effectively. Congratulations! I intend following your Blog.
NRPai

Anonymous said...

good one dad

Samith Shamim

Anonymous said...

very good website Shamim ,you are a wonderful trainer

Best regards
P.Venugopalan Menon
09895760016

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr Shamim

Kudos to u. this is first time i am reading ur blog.& also happy to note that your also a Rotarian too.I am balakrishnan from Cbe Rotary Spectrum Sect.
I could like to ask u a question Sir ?
How should one Prepare his first spech's for vote of thanks in the amidst of August gathering.as this is my first time in my life ,iam going to speak. Can u help me Sir. I am going to talk on my installation day which will held tomorrow ie 19/07/10.
I have seen many speaker's fumbling and i donot want to do the same. Sir can u guide me and reply . As this will give first impetus to me to succeed in life

Regards
K N BALLAKISHNAN

knballa@gmail.com

MB 9363111674

Anonymous said...

Dear Shamim,

Great article and very true !!!


Nishanth

Anonymous said...

Hey.. i read it..very inspiring article..Way to go Shamim!!!

Anonymous said...

Metaphors can drive home point faster. Good one Shamim!
Krishna Kumar

Anonymous said...

Hi Shamim ,



Thanks for posting the articles – will definitely go through the same and will motivate my staff also to go through the articles

Regards
Rtn Viswanathan

Anonymous said...

Dear Shamim,
Thank you Shamim for the great enlightening thoughts and inspirational
pearls. Shall be back with you soon
Dr.TV Mathew

Anonymous said...

Dear Shameem,


Chicken or Eagle, well prepared and well inspiring which can infuse confidence to all. Please keep on writing

Thanks ! have a nice day

Anilkumar.

Please note my new emailid anilkumarbfcs@gmail.com

Unknown said...

I agree. Our thinking often limits our achievements because we are not trained to think free.
What you said is so true, and it's a message that more people should imbibe. Good to know that you are a trainer too. Which means you have the opportunity to instill inspiring thoughts in a whole lot of people. Good luck!

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Unknown said...

informative post thanks for sharing !
Sudheer Sandra is the leading Motivational Speaker in hyderabad and Psychologist. Sudheer Sandra Career Counselling Centre in Hyderabad with the intent to provide solutions to all kinds of career confusions among students and professionals.
He is very passionate about Psychology and is intend to spread awareness about psychology and mental health. The process of finding your purpose involves finding your passions first, which made him to choose psychology after his Engineering

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