Eagle Among Chickens

Flap your wings and fly...

An eagle's egg was mistakenly placed under a hen. It wasn't known that it it was an eagle's egg and it was kept with all the other eggs which the hen was hatching.

In due time, the baby eagle hatched from its shell alongside a few chicks. The baby-eagle began his life just like the chicks, sheltered by the mother hen.

As the baby eagle matured, he did what the chicks did, thinking he was a chicken. He scratched the earth for worms and insects. He clucked and cackled.

Over time, the young eagle started to notice significant differences. He was considerably different from the chicks and conditioned differently.

 “What are you doing here among all these chickens? You are an eagle! You can fly and your home is high up among the cliffs!” an inner voice will say to him.

The young eagle was confused and could not accept the fact that he was an eagle. He retorted with doubts, “I can't fly, I am a chicken! This is where I belong, close to the ground!”

One day, a very powerful gust of wind swept across the barnyard taking all the birds up in the air. Unable to fly for more than a few seconds, the little chickens dropped to the ground one by one, but the little eagle realized that if he flapped his wings, he remained afloat. 

“Flap your wings and fly! You're an eagle!” The inner voice yelled at him

To his bewilderment, the young eagle flapped his wings and discovered that he could fly.

If he flapped them harder he rose higher. And if he rode a current of wind, he could soar higher still. In a few moments he was flying high up in the sky. 

he said to himself: I’m not a chicken; I’m an eagle.

And he raised his head and flew higher

This story is a powerful allegory for personal growth and self-discovery, encapsulating several vital lessons:

1. Don't let your environment determine who you will become: Like the eagle raised as a chicken, you may find yourself in an environment or circumstancethat doesn't reflect your true potential.

Your surroundings does not define your limits or capabilities. It should rather encourage you to look beyond the immediate context of your upbringing or current situation to discover who you truly are and what you're capable of achieving.

From grass to grace is a valid occurrence. You can turn it around.

2. Believe in yourself:

The young eagle's journey from doubting his ability to fly to soaring high in the sky underscores the importance of self-belief. Self-doubt can be a significant barrier to realizing your potential. By believing in yourself  and your capabilities, you can overcome internal and external obstacles that stand in the way of your goals.

if you don't believe in yourself. Who will?

3. Discover your potential:

The journey of the eagle from the ground to the sky is a powerful metaphor for the process of discovering potential. Initially unaware of his capabilities, the young eagle needed a catalyst—in this case, the gust of wind—to uncover his ability to fly.

Just as the eagle had to spread his wings to realize he could fly, you must be willing to step outside your comfort zone and try new things. That is how you can uncover abilities and interests you never knew you had.

Start now. Find what you're good at.

4. Seize every opportunity as they come your way:

The turning point for the eagle was when a gust of wind lifted him into the air. This moment symbolizes the opportunities that life presents us. The story encourages you to be open and ready to seize such moments, as they can lead to discoveries about your abilities and open up new paths that you didn't consider before.

5. You're an eagle, not a chicken: Don't limit yourself by the identities or expectations imposed on you by others. Like the eagle, you must recognize and embrace your true nature to achieve your full potential.

6. No condition is permanent: The eagle's transformation from living as a chicken to flying high above the earth illustrates that your current circumstances are not fixed or unchangeable. Be hopeful. Be resilient.

With effort, belief, and the willingness to learn, you can transcend your present conditions and achieve great things.

We are all born eagles and have the potential to soar high above the clouds. However, many of us are too “chicken” to leave the ground. We all have a higher potential within. We need to help ourselves and others realize it. Stop being a chicken today!

With love,

Daniel Sampson