There is a famous allegory that highlights the importance of altering your reality and resetting your expectations.
A boy once found an abandoned bird’s egg in the wild. Despite not knowing what would emerge from the egg, the boy brought the egg home to his village. He didn’t want to destroy it, so he decided to put the egg under his fattest hen.
Eventually the egg hatched and an eagle sprung forth, and the boy decided to keep the bird. The eagle saw that the hens, roosters, and chicks surrounding him scratched the ground constantly, clucked, and ate worms, so he did, too. The eagle wasn’t even aware that he could fly, because none of his chick friends could.
One day, the fully grown eagle looked into the sky and saw the most terrifying creature he had ever seen—it was another eagle. Of course, the eagle had no concept of his identity and potential, so he ran for cover and hid inside the henhouse for the rest of his life.
The parallels are clear. Every one of us is that eagle, and we have the capability to soar in the sky. We are able and ready for it. Nothing is holding us back except the realization that we can—either our mental or physical realities. Most of us either believe we are chickens or actively choose to live like chickens. We diminish our capabilities and never put ourselves to the test. We clip our own wings before anyone else ever gets the chance.
Will you allow the eagle inside you to soar, or will you remain forever cowering in the henhouse?