Ready, Set, Goals - Day 10: Are You a Soaring Eagle or a Circling Buzzard?

Eagles are goal-oriented birds. They are success minded and use their various skills toward a specific aim or purpose.

Buzzards on the other hand are weak-minded, opportunistic birds. They too have aim and purpose, but their intent is to get what they can by the efforts of others – to take advantage of others.

The masses choose the buzzard lifestyle. Think about a buzzard (aka. Vulture). It is of the family of eagles and hawks, but is far from the majesty and grandeur of an eagle. Why? Because buzzards spot something that is dying and then circle above it waiting for it to die so they can eat.



The Mentality of the Buzzard

Why doesn’t the buzzard kill it itself or finish it off? Because of fear. Buzzards have weak claws. They live off the hard work of other animals. They live a life of hoping and waiting for their next meal to be served up by some other animal.

Most people are the same way. They won’t admit it, but it is true. They need someone else to provide for them whether it’s the government or an employer.

The culprit is fear. Fear will keep you in bondage to a so-so life. But there is an undercurrent of fear. People simply sell their birth right of an abundant and prosperous life because of fear of the unknown, or more simply put, hunger. We’ll get deeper into fear and overcoming fear on day eleven.

The Mentality of the Eagle

I don’t know of any country that has chosen the buzzard for their national symbol. When people see an eagle whether in person or in a picture or on a movie screen their reaction is always one of awe. Why? Because the symbolic power, strength and freedom associated with the Bald Eagle in particular, resonates deep within our spirit - which is why they were selected as the U.S. national symbol.

The eagle has a certain presence, especially when in flight. The eagle while in flight can see its target from a great distance and can see another eagle soaring nearly 50 miles away.

Notice that the vulture (aka. Buzzard) does not get the same reaction. Why? Because they only eat what something else had already killed. They are incapable of seeking out their own means of subsistence. They have weak claws and live chiefly on "carrion" (dead and decaying flesh).

Eagles have a different mentality altogether. Eagles are birds of opportunity. They get out there and look for what they want and need. Eagles are powerful and courageous and skillful hunters.

Do you remember those National Geographic documentaries? I remember seeing one on eagles and they showed an eagle zero in on its goal – in this case a fish swimming in the ocean. That eagle was able to spot it’s goal (target) from miles away, head towards it, swoop down and pluck it out of the water with it’s claws and hardly lose any momentum. They can do the same thing with small animals on land.

You have to have that kind of determination about your goals and dreams if you are ever to capture them. Imagine that the ocean is full of all the goals and dreams of every living person in the world. Your goals are in this vast ocean of possibility. In order for you to obtain your goals and realize your dreams, you first have to identify them - you have done that part already.

Take Action

Now comes the part where most people fall short…taking action. Now you must possess relentless determination and skill and knowledge and passion. It is all within you already, but it is up to you to develop it, refine it and bring it out. You must align yourself with other eagle-like individuals and groups.

As you begin to think of yourself as eagle-like, and you begin to hang out with and learn from other eagles, you will your claws getting stronger, your eyesight for spotting opportunities getting sharper, your ability to soar towards you goals improving and your outlook on how great life can and will be expanding. You will see farther than you have ever seen before – beyond what the physical eye can see.

You must take action. Take flight to the ocean where your dreams and goals are swimming around just waiting for you to take hold of them. You have to recognize them and swoop down and grasp them and soar with them to the land of fulfillment. That abundant life is for everyone, but God will not force it upon you.


Exercise 13:

What is Your Mentality?

Write out you answer, response or reaction to each statement below.

How do you spend your Days? Time? Life?...

On the lookout for opportunities or hoping for one?___________________________________________

Expecting greatness or accepting the status quo?_____________________________________________

With love in your heart or bitterness and contempt?___________________________________________

Expecting success or anticipating failure?___________________________________________________

Giving of your time and talents or using others for your own gain?________________________________

Loving people and using money or using people and loving money?_______________________________

Being a Go Giver or being a Go Getter?___________________________________________________

In gratitude and thankfulness or in selfishness and being un-thankful?______________________________

In prayer and meditation or in wishful thinking?______________________________________________

In finding ways to serve or in finding ways to be served?_______________________________________

Going the extra mile or stopping short of a mile every chance you get?____________________________

Building value-rich relationships or shallow “what’s in it for me” relationships?_______________________

Appreciating what you have or complaining about what you don’t have?___________________________

Sowing seeds rich in giving or sowing seeds of me and mine?____________________________________

Developing a more meaningful me, or this is who I am so whoever doesn’t like it, too bad?_____________

I look for the positive in every situation or there can’t be a positive in every situation?_________________

Growing, improving & manifesting or stagnant, under-developed & unclear?________________________

Setting goals or hoping for the best?______________________________________________________

Keeping physically fit or I’ll get in shape someday?___________________________________________

Eating healthy foods or I worry about that after my body starts falling apart?________________________

Keeping my home & work areas clutter free or I know where everything is?________________________

I am Happy or I will be happy when XYZ happens?__________________________________________

I smile more often than not or there’s not much to smile about these days?__________________________

I speak mainly high-energy words or I say whatever comes to my mind?___________________________

I look for the good in everyone or I can’t see past other’s faults?_________________________________

I have ways to motivate myself or I went to one of those motivational things once?____________________

I am passionate about my goals and dreams or I’m only in it for the money?_________________________

I live my life with purpose or the only purpose in life is to survive the best you can?____________________

I tithe or give 10% of my earnings or I barely have enough to take care of my own?___________________

I accept responsibility for where I am in life right now or it’s not my fault?__________________________

As much as possible I think positive thoughts or who can keep that up all the time?___________________

The glass is half full or half empty?________________________________________________________

I read non-fiction books for personal development or I prefer to watch television?____________________

I find inspiring and creative ways to unwind or I need a drink (alcohol) to unwind?____________________

I network with success-minded people or I network with whoever I can pitch?______________________

What I do today determines my tomorrows or I might not be here tomorrow so who cares?_____________


**Write a few of your own and share them in the comment section below.

Again I ask the question…

Are you a soaring eagle or a circling buzzard?

You do not want to get stuck going in circles day in and day out, month after month and year after year. Buzzards fly around in circles but are going nowhere. Most people are living their lives the same way – circling around mediocrity.

I know that saying, “Birds of a feather flock together” is cliché and over-used, but nevertheless, it is true.

Have you ever seen an eagle flying around with a bunch of buzzards?

I know someone is thinking, yeah, but what if you’re married to one?

Go back to the above list. You’ll find your answers there. Each situation is different. Each person is different. So far, we as a nation have not gone out and shot all the buzzards in the world because we think they are useless or lack character or skill. If we look for the good in them, we’ll surely find it.

Stop circling and focusing on your problems and fears. Get out there, soar, and you’ll find solutions and opportunities that will blow your mind and blast your problems and fears right out of your life.

Keep working on your projects:
Project 1: Your Vision Board
Project 2: Your Success Notebook

Copyright© 2009 Anita Crawford Clark       All rights reserved worldwide