EVEN EAGLES NEED A PUSH
Learning To Soar In A Changing World
To the reader from the author — A short time ago I became aware rather abruptly of my primary goal as a parent. My eldest child turned sixteen and with a loud cry of "free at last" she got her driver's licence. My fears were somewhat allayed by the assurance of her driving instructor: "Don't worry. Your daughter is very confident."
I realized there was no other single human quality that more affected the outcomes of our lives than confidence. Only with confidence do we advance boldly in the direction of our dreams. Only with confidence do we tackle life's challenges with the faith that we can handle them. As each of my children eventually leave the family nest, I am convinced there is no greater gift with which they could depart than confidence.
This is not, however, a quality I see rampant in the world. In these wondrous times of change and opportunity, some people are happily riding the momentum of the megatrends, exclaiming with John Naisbitt, "What a fantastic time to be alive." But there are many others who agree with Woody Allen's statement: "Most of the time I don't have much fun, and the rest of the time I don't have any fun at all."
It seems that lack of confidence remains a malaise that is still preventing a disproportionate number of incredibly talented people from fully participating in, and contributing to, what for the first time may be the attainable goals of global peace and prosperity. This lack of confidence, on all levels, has got to stop, for the world needs each of us, in our own special way, both to embrace and be committed to these most worthy goals.
This book, therefore, is dedicated to confidence—great confidence, your great confidence. Its purpose is to inspire you to live the life that perhaps, until now, you had only imagined for yourself. Its mission is to give you the tools to create that life so that, no matter the obstacles along the way, you know you have what it takes to surmount them.
The path we shall follow is not one laden with positive platitudes, but rather it is a quest for insight, wholeness, and integrity. We shall embark upon a journey of discovery, to reflect upon and clarify what is truly important and meaningful to you. Specifically, we shall be seeking answers to three of life's most important questions:
Why are you here?Confident people have a philosophy about why they were created. They have a sense of purpose, a belief that they are important, that their lives matter.What do you have to contribute that will make a difference?
What do you value and believe in?
Confident people know what they bring to the world. They are aware of what they are good at, their special abilities. They know that success, satisfaction, and fulfillment are the rewards for contributing their gifts and talents towards something that makes a difference.
Confident people know that the accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor requires commitment. They know that it is only to that in which they truly value and believe are they willing to be committed.
The process we shall follow is analogous to a "time out." You will be investing time reviewing and developing new strategies for your life. You will be resting, catching your breath, breaking the momentum of runaway negative influences, refocusing and re-energizing. You will be aligning yourself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually to ensure each part of you is working together to win this game called life.
Many of the questions you will be asking do not have easy answers. It is important, therefore, that you not be locked into the structure of the book. If at anytime you prefer to read on and return to the exercises at a later time, you are absolutely free to do so. Do not feel confined to the form I have created; do what works for you. After all, discovering what is best for you is one of our primary objectives.
Most of us have heard a great deal about the importance of motivation in getting what you want from life. The payoff for your commitment to completing the exercises and processes will be to move you to a level even more powerful than motivation. It is called inspiration.
To be inspired means to move forward with purpose and enthusiasm. Purpose denotes a clarity of intention while enthusiasm is derived from the Greek en theos, a god or spirit within. Clarity of intention propelled by a spirit within is the most potent combination for achievement and creativity known to humankind.
Inspired persons know why they do what they do and why they want what they want. They are not shackled by the pettiness that restrains so many lives. The inspired person comes to life with a purpose and passion, with the daily desire to grow and contribute.
If that's what you want, then let's spend some time together.
The eagle gently coaxed her offspring toward the edge of the nest. Her heart quivered with conflicting emotions as she felt their resistance to her persistent nudging. "Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the fear of falling?" she thought. This ageless question was still unanswered for her.David McNallyAs in the tradition of the species, her nest was located high on the shelf of a sheer rock face. Below there was nothing but air to support the wings of each child. "Is it possible that this time it will not work?" she thought. Despite her fears, the eagle knew it was time. Her parental mission was all but complete. There remained one final task—the push.
The eagle drew courage from an innate wisdom. Until her children discovered their wings, there was no purpose for their lives. Until they learned how to soar, they would fail to understand the privilege it was to have been born an eagle. The push was the greatest gift she had to offer. It was her supreme act of love. And so one by one she pushed them, and they flew!
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