What better to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon that tidy out my office. I started with my books and made slow progress as I found book after book that I wanted to read (some for the first time). One such gem I came across was the fable of Jonathan Livingston Seagull. I remember getting it from my first coach.I sat down and got absorbed in it for the thirty minutes it takes to fly through this lovely story. I appreciated the many layers of insight it offers – if the reader choses to hear them. Yes it’s about a seagull who wants to live a fuller life than the rest of the flock who are content to fly in order to find food each day. That’s the norm. Jonathan, however, wants to stretch the limits of his full potential, to learn how far his flying can take him. He tries, tries and tries again and eventually breaks free from the perceived limitations and discovers how far he can go. By the end, he has inspired thousands of seagulls to join him in learning what’s possible for each of them. No more normal. You can see why I enjoyed re-reading Jonathan’s story. I’m always asking what’s possible? I always believe there must be another way, whenever we’re faced with a perceived limitation. And I love that he explores the concept of what it means to live free. Jonathan gets labelled as a rebellious outcast by the rest of the flock. He’s condemned for not being like everyone else and for trying to go beyond the norm. It strikes me how often we are perhaps like Jonathan: knowing there’s more to our potential, and striving to reach for it. It takes courage and self-belief to go beyond the everyday, ordinary of the flock.
Your turn: What would it mean for you to really fly in your life or work? What perceived limitation might be holding you back (like Jonathan it’s often, what will people think)? What are you willing to strive for? Where might your hidden potential lie? #Live Fully
