Day 5 of the 5-Day Success Challenge
A pike-fish, which is a large and menacing creature, was once the subject of a laboratory experiment. Scientists captured this large pike-fish and put it in a tank along with many small minnows.
The pike wasted no time making quick work eating the minnows. After a few days, all of the smaller fish were gone.
The next day the scientists placed a large glass tube in the middle of the tank. The pike was placed inside this circular tube. Next, more minnows was placed back in the tank, but on the other side of the tube that contained the pike-fish.
The pike charged after the minnows, but to no avail. The fish kept banging its pointed head against the glass. The pike-fish could see the minnows, but could not reach them. This struggle continued for many days.
On the last day of the experiment, the scientist lifted the glass tube out of the tank. They left both the pike-fish and the minnows in the same tank, swimming together.
The next morning, the scientists found the pike floating on top of the water. It had died of starvation. Ironically, what it needed for nourishment and to sustain its life was right there, but it had given up. It grew tried of the frustration and weary from struggle. It had lost its desire to keep trying, to keep fighting for its own survival.
How does this story mirror your life?
Too often we give up on our dreams and goals and we stop fighting, too. However, the one thing that will sustain us and give us the encouragement is right there in front us, just like the minnows.
Our minnows are hope and faith. This is what this week and the 5-Day Success Challenge has been all about in the first place.
It’s been about understanding that even though you can’t change everything in your life in just five days; you can begin to change some things. You can begin, by taking baby-steps at first, going from where you are right now, to where you want to be.
The most important thing you can change is your belief that you are worthy and entitled to whatever your heart desires. You are more than enough, my friend, and my hope is you take all of those times of banging your head against the glass and use that experience to tell yourself that you are a person of courage, determination and dignity.
There is no question that at times we feel like the pike-fish and stop caring and stop trying. When we do, our rock, our anchor, is our list of goals we have committed to paper. Allow hope to overtake you and let faith guide you to where you need to go.
Success isn’t always defined by what you have accomplished, but by what you are trying to accomplish. Keep swimming and keep feasting on your minnows of hope and faith. Then, it’s not a matter of if you will accomplish your goals, it will just be a matter of when.
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