THE IDENTITY QUESTION.....finding the answer.

I love the story of the Eagle and Chickens. An eaglet who fell off his nest and was found by a farmer who brought him into a chicken coop where he grew up thinking he was a chicken. He scratched the ground all day looking for worms same way a Chicken does. All he knew was the farm and his chicken friends. Being chickens, the chickens raised the eagle to be a chicken (at least to think he was a chicken). The eagle loved his home and family but it seemed his spirit cried out for more. One day, the eagle looked to the sky above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring. ”Oh,” the eagle cried, “I wish I could soar like those birds.” The chickens roared with laughter, “You cannot soar like those. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar.” The eagle continued staring at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be like them. Each time the eagle talked about his dreams of flying, he was told it couldn't be done. One day a man saw this beautiful bald eagle in the chicken coop. He decided to take him up the mountain. He held the eagle up to the wind. The eagle looked at the other eagles flying in the sky. He stretched out his wings and flew into the sky. 

Indeed, the greatest discovery in life is knowing who you are! Have you ever asked yourself questions like; "WHO AM I", "WHY AM I HERE" etc?. It is very imperative that everyone is able to answer these questions otherwise abuse of purpose or identity crisis is inevitable. Unless you know who you are, you will always be vulnerable to what people say. In my opening story, It is significant to note that even though the Eagle is the king of the air, the Eagle could not fly simply because he did not know who he was and because of what he was constantly being told. Identity discovery leads to discovery of purpose. If you do not know why a product was made, there is high possibility that you will use that product for an entirely different purpose other than the purpose for which it was made. That is gross abuse of purpose and that product will certainly not serve the purpose for which it was made. Same with humans.  If you have discovered who you are, then you will know your purpose in life; where you want to go, what you want to be and what you want to do. The importance of analysing your true identity (who am I, what is my  mission etal) prior to setting a goal cannot be underestimated. A lack of identity often results in a lack of direction in goal-setting. Who you are is much more important than what you do! Once you identify who you are, you can then identify what you want to do (with a full consciousness of what you can do), where you want to go, what you want to be and how those things can be achieved. I love the way American Author; Leo Buscaglia puts it; “A wonderful realization will be the day you realize that you are unique in all of the world. The world is an incredible, unfulfilled tapestry, and only you can fulfill that tiny space that is yours.” 

You must know that you are a unique being in every way and must embrace your individuality. When you do, your gifts and talents become energized. Then your authentic self will be permitted to excel. When you conform in order to fit in, be accepted, and avoid rejection, you shut down and give your power away. As you learn to practice self-acceptance and honor our differences, you feel safe to be your true self. You must also learn to always identify with your identity/individuality. You must be true to yourself and project same. Never think, act and behave like someone else. You must realise that you are unique and your purpose in life is different. God (some would rather say nature instead of God) has a purpose for you which can only be accomplished by knowing who you are. You must identify with the purpose to the extent that it will be the first thing that comes to mind once people see you. Remember, only when you truly know yourself and fully understand your purpose can you successfully share it with others.

In conclusion, you all wish to be seen for who you actually are but the question is; who are you?. In order for this to happen, you must first take the time to know, honor, accept, and celebrate what makes you different from others. When someone recognizes and acknowledges your true essence, you will certainly feel seen and known on a deeper level. By discovering and celebrating what makes you different, you will discover your unique and special gifts. This discovery will lead you to living your truth. You must find our if you are an Eagle. If you are an Eagle, you have no business scratching the ground for worms. Fly high in the sky and stop acting like a Chicken. If you also have discovered that you are a Chicken, don't even try to be like the Eagle and fly because you wont be able to do it better than the Eagle. Rather, be the best Chicken. I love you.