Last year I attended a show at a falconry center where I was able to see some incredibly beautiful eagles, hawks and owls. The presentation took place in a small amphitheater on the compound and an experienced trainer brought out a few birds one at a time and talked to us about them.
During a portion of the presentation the trainer had an eagle perched on his forearm and while speaking he would occasionally lift the bird to flight. The eagle would fly a substantial distance away, far enough that I had to visually strain to keep it in view, the trainer would then put some food in his hand and call the bird. Each time the eagle would swoop in at a ferocious speed that made the audience instinctively ‘duck’, land on the trainer’s arm and take the food.
Of course, we all ‘ooohed’ and ‘aahed’ at the magnificent sight, marveling at how well the eagle was trained and commenting on the special connection between the bird and its trainer, but the trainer was quick to point out that there’s nothing special about this. The eagle doesn’t come by it naturally to want to fly to a human being in fact, it’s instinct is to stay away.
So then, why did the eagle do this? Its physical hunger, we were told, its instinctual drive for food to ensure its survival, was greater than its fear based instinct to stay away in other words, its hunger was greater than its fear.
When I heard this, time seemed to stand still. In that instant I saw not only how this concept applied to the human experience but of greater significance, how in completely captured the pivotal point that determines our personal evolution or conversely our stagnation and decay.
Inherent in the experience of being a living, breathing human is the deeply held need to grow and evolve, an instinctual drive to thrive. But evolving, i.e. moving from where we are to where we need to be, is often easier said than done because it requires stepping out of our comfort zone.
Comfort Zones
Understanding comfort zones and our connection to them is important. Comfort zones serve a purpose in our lives in that being structured, predictable, providing safety, shelter and sustenance of various kinds, they create order out of what might otherwise be chaos. And that feels good. Based on the amount of time we spend in them, they also become very familiar places and for all these reasons combined, we draw comfort from them. But it doesn’t stop there and, if we’re going to be really honest we have to acknowledge that they also allow us to hide from ourselves and others, and avoid facing the things that trigger our fears.
When ‘opportunities for personal evolution’ (sometimes known as “crisis”) come knocking at the door signaling that we have outgrown the usefulness of a comfort zone, rationally we may be aware of the reasons why it is in our best interest to take the evolutionary step forward but emotionally we may find ourselves resistant. We know that our comfort zone is no longer the best place for us to be but the fact is, it’s familiar. What’s on the other side of this familiar territory is completely unknown and, as our panicked hearts insistently remind us, when we step into the uncertain waters of change we’re not in control and therefore at greater risk of failing.
Ah, the very thing we fear the most, Failing, and by the way, Failing doesn’t like to travel alone so with him you can be sure to find his close friends: Lost, Alone, Not Good Enough, Anxious, Overwhelmed, and Powerless.
So why, with so much at stake, would anyone knowingly put themselves in such a fearful and turbulent state?
Be sure to come back and read my next blog for Part 2 of ‘Is Your Hunger Greater Than Your Fears.’
Great Links to Help You Live an Empowered Life
Mental and Emotional Health
This link will give you some sound information on managing Seasonal Affective Disorders, otherwise known as the ‘winter blahs’.
http://www.essortment.com/all/whatseasonalaf_rgqe.htm
Panic Attacks
Here is a wonderful and informative site on Panic Attacks and other types of Anxiety.
http://www.anxietypanicattack.com/
www.kristinajansz.com
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