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In the past few months, I feel like I have taken a leap into unfamiliar territory that lies outside my comfort zone. Just like a bird perched on a towering tree branch, I have found myself in a position where I can see the vast expanse of my dreams and aspirations. However, much like the bird, I have also felt an invisible force holding me back--fear and self-doubt. It's been the thought of helping to assist others in their journey towards health that has compelled me to overcome these personal barriers, just as the bird must overcome its own fears and limitations to take flight.
I remember as a child, I possessed a strong sense of confidence, much like a young bird ready to explore the world. Just ask my mom, I know I was a nightmare to deal with at times because of my lack of fear and strong sense of self. But as I grew older and started exposing my heart to the world, fear began to seep in and I began to question my sense of identity. Heartaches, heartbreaks, and the inevitable self-doubt and fear that accompanies them. It was as if this bird's wings were clipped, preventing me from pursuing much of my true purpose--connecting with others and building them up.
However, just like the bird, I have come to realize that these chains are not a part of me. They are merely obstacles that can be overcome. By intentionally placing myself in one-on-one relationships to aid others in their physical growth, I am breaking free from the chains that bind me. I am saying no to the fear of failure. I know there will be some of that along the way. But, if I focus on the possibility of failure, I am letting fear sit at the throne of my actions. So instead, I am spreading my wings and taking a leap of faith, just as the bird must do to experience the freedom of flight.
I still feel fear, I don't know if there is a way to absolve myself of that emotion completely, but I can choose to take action even through it. The same way I can grab a set of dumbbells and do two more reps at the end of a hard round and just accept that I feel pain, but work through it to get past it. I CAN move through fear. I CAN continue to study and grow in knowledge of methods and experience through application on how to coach others. To lift others up so we can fly together. I CAN share what I know. Barriers don't have to be where the journey ends. Barriers have nearly killed entire people groups--think of nazi Germany, the colonization of America and the trail of tears and so many other dark and horrible moments in history.
I can learn from history. My enemy might not be the nazis* or the american colonizers** but I have an enemy in fear, in self-doubt, in inaction. Those things if allowed to be my ruler, make me a victim to powers similar to those things seen in those horrible histories. Do you not think fear tactics were involved there? Inadequacy maximized through making those poor Jewish people and Indians weak by controlling their food supply and therefore making them powerless. Also, their identity is taken. Much the same as I mentioned earlier about how I began to question my identity, everything about the way these peoples worshiped, lived, socialized, and their culture as a whole was completely destroyed. They lost their identity. This is how the enemy works. This is how our wings are clipped and our flight prevented.
So, as you stand at the edge of your own precipice, gazing into the boundless expanse of your dreams and aspirations, remember that you are the bird. The chains of self-doubt, fear, inconsistency, and the opinions of others do not define you, they are an enemy of the truth of who you are and what you are meant for. They are MERELY obstacles that can be overcome. Spread your wings, take a leap of faith, and soar high. The sky is vast and inviting, patiently awaiting your arrival. Don't let these chains hold you back. After all, a bird is meant to fly, not to stay perched on a branch.
*nazis **american colonizers-- Yes, I know to be grammatically correct these should be capitalized, but I wouldn't give that much recognition to people that are able to treat other humans like animals.
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