Insights Come From Strange Places

CONSIDER THE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE YOUR OWN PATH 

Here is an opportunity to consider what we might learn from the bear and how he approaches his journey. This might provide some suggestions for preparation and for overcoming obstacles. First consider his Presence. At first look, he is strong, large and confident as he follows his path. He also has an end in mind, for he does end up in the neighbor’s back yard where the bees live.

Physically, are you prepared to pursue your pathway? Are you strong (in mind, body and spirit)? Have you developed a presence so that people actually see you when you show up, or are you crouching and trying to hide as you confront new people and new situations on your pathway?

Confidence comes with the knowledge that you are prepared. You know what you want. You know where to find it. And, you are ready to tackle the obstacles that might be challenging your progress. This bear actually climbed over a six foot basket weave fence to get to his honey! He was determined and not deterred by obstacles. The bear created his own path where none seemed to be. 

SELF TALK CAN SUPPORT OR UNDERMINE YOUR GOAL 

What do you think his self-talk might be? Do bears talk to themselves? Well, if they did, do you think that this confident bear would say “Oh, the people here may not like me!” He is much more likely to say to himself: “I know the honey is over there and I need to get it!” He is focused on his goal. He is not distracted by his self-image or his worries about being accepted! That never occurs to him.

If you approach a job interview, people at a conference, or a person you might like to get to know better, thinking only that “oh dear, suppose they don’t like me,” then the chances are that you will give off vibes to these other people that make them uncomfortable! So it is better if you think about what you have to share with them and how you can get them to share what is interesting to them with you! After all, you want to know where the honey is also! That should be your focus. 

ASK QUESTIONS TO LEARN WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW 

Knowledge is also important for moving along the path. This bear has a good sense of smell and his knowledge and prior experience with honey enables him to really chart a fairly direct path to the honeycomb! The bear must be a good tracker.

What kind of knowledge do you need to have to be a successful tracker on your path? Do you need to talk to people along the way? Do you need to learn to read the signs and recognize specific characteristics of your environment? Do you need to explore around the pathway more, compare and contrast where you are now with where you were yesterday? Too many people just point their eyes at their feet and trudge on down the path. They miss all the cues that are in the fields, the trees, changes in animal behavior and subtle changes in the landscape. A bear would pay attention to all of these external cues about his environment so that he could be efficient in gathering food, and finding shelter.

So thank you Mr. Bear, for providing some suggestions on how we might better follow our path!