Many people don't realize that their fate as well as their destiny is proclaimed in the people they associate with. Your friends and associates can stimulate you to help you reach your highest potential or they can bring you down.
When we look as birds of the kingdom, we realize that there are significant differences in their lifestyle and associations. We’ve all heard that "Birds of a Feather Flock Together". That’s absolutely the truth. And People in many ways are similar. We have a tendency to associate with people who make us feel good or people we are comfortable with, staying within “Our Comfort Zone”. However, in order to reach your highest potential, you may have to remove yourself from your “Comfort Zone”.
Let's take a look at two distinct Birds. The Eagle and the turkey, and examine how they live and communicate.
The eagle is recognized as the “king of birds”; by reason of his great size, his remarkable power of flight, and his keenness of vision. The Eagle also builds his home to heights where the atmosphere is always below freezing, and descend to the warm earth almost every day. They have great strength and can kill small mammals, large birds, etc., even though they never slay except to eat. The Eagle is also known to be an intelligent Bird and is our National Emblem.
Turkeys on the other hand are considered to be bird-brained. They are not as intelligent as the Eagle and in many cases will peck each other to death if they don't receive proper care. Turkeys can be downright mean at times and can drown in a rain storm. They hear the thunderstorm and usually look up with their mouths open, and after swallowing too much water, they drown.
There is a story about an American Indian who found an eagle's egg and put it into the nest of a prairie chicken. The eaglet hatched with the brood of chicks and grew up with them.
All its life, the changeling eagle, thought it was a prairie chicken, it did what the prairie chickens did. It scratched in the dirt for seeds and insects to eat. It clucked and cackled and flew in a brief thrashing of wings and flurry of feathers no more than a few feet off the ground. After all, that's how prairie chickens were supposed to fly.
Years passed and the changeling eagle grew very old. One day, it saw a magnificent bird far above in the cloudless sky, hanging with graceful majesty on the powerful wind currents, and it soared with scarcely a beat of its strong golden wings.
"What a beautiful bird!" said the changeling eagle to its neighbor. "What is it?"
"That's an eagle - the chief of the birds," the neighbor clucked. "But don't give it a second thought. You could never be like him."
So the changeling eagle never gave it a second thought. Throughout its entire life the changeling eagle pride itself as being a prairie chicken and it died thinking it was a prairie chicken. (Story Taken From: The Christophers, Bits & Pieces)
Keep in mind that we have personal differences and very unique gifts that God has given us. And in order to soar like an eagle, we must surround ourselves with Positive experiences and Positive People. Of course, no one wants to end up like the “Eagle who thought he was a Chicken”. Just as the Eagle, when placed in an inferior environment we become inferior. So not to be inferior or less than what we ought to be, it is imperative that we surround ourselves with people who can help us grow, stimulate us, point us in the right direction, help us up when we stumble, give us hope when we are down, and lead us to God when we are Godless.
At this point, say to yourself I will surround myself with Positive and encouraging people who can help me establish my Self Confidence and build my Self Esteem.
Just to recapture the article, I leave you with a word of advice, never, never, never surround yourself with people that are negative but instead make it a point to surround yourself with people who will encourage you to reach your Highest and Greatest Potential.
Now which do you prefer? Do you want to Soar like an eagle or gobble like a turkey?
http://www.MelvinaHarrisonInstructor.com
Melvina Harrison is a Motivational speaker, and has been teaching and motivating others for over 20 years. As an Instructor for the Army Training Support Center and Key note Speaker for several churches thru the "youth ministry and women's ministry programs, She has traveled all over the world Teaching and motivating others.
She toured Europe for three years and toured the United States Teaching and speaking to Women's groups, Teens and Churches. As an Instructional Systems Specialist for the Army Training Support Center and instructor for over 20 years, she has developed and implemented several courses for the Army and Professional Organizations.
During her years as an instructor and trainer Mrs. Harrison has trained over 10,000 soldiers, officers, civilians, instructors, training developers, supervisors and mangers. She has planned and coordinated several conferences, seminars and workshops, to include "Positive thinking techniques", "How to Motivate Employees", "Communication Skills", "Self Empowerment Techniques", "Principles of Successful Networking", "Prevention of Teen pregnancy", and "Prevention of Violence, and Drug Abuse for Teens".
EDUCATION: Master's Degree M.A., 1988, Adult Education, Hampton University,
Bachelors Degree 1974, Education, Texas Southern University,
Melvina's additional experience includes:
• Motivational Speaker for the Gospel Announcers Guild Anniversary
• Speaker for the "Prevention of Teen Pregnancy" Mt Zion Baptist Church
• Appeared several times as host on WAVY 10, Television Broadcast, "Spread A Little Sunshine"
• Keynote Speaker for "Gospel Announcer's Guild Anniversary", Richmond, Va.