5 Mental Health Lessons from the Eagle
“ ... but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
The EAGLE.
An impressive creature. Like no other bird, we humans can derive life and mental health lessons from it. As we do, we can live and fly like the eagle.
# 1. The eagle has strong, intense, laser-focus vision, catching its prey.
Life lesson: You do the same intense concentration when reaching out to your goals and dreams. Focus. Set out to invest all your being, your time, energies, and resources to achieve what you want for your life.
# 2. The eagle eats only live food.
Life lesson: Like the eagle, don’t eat the “dead.” Don’t waste your time and energy beating a dead horse in your life, such as past mistakes or relationships that can’t be undone. Learn to let go, move on, keep your options open, and do what gives you life.
# 3. The eagle loves storms and fly above them.
Life lesson: Get excited when there is a storm coming into your life. Above the storm clouds, rest your wings and embrace the challenge to get stronger. Welcome the opportunity to build your inner strength and life skills during the storm.
# 4. The eagle is a strong parent/mother who doesn’t want its eaglets to die in the nest!
Life lesson: Like the eagle, you can be a master of change and tough love in motherhood. Out of fears, your growing kids may keep jumping back to the nest. But you don’t yield. You care enough that you avoid encouraging them into fears, insecurities, or laziness. You want them to grow and spread their wings!
# 5. The eagle is willing to take pain and change in order to grow.
Life lesson: At age 40, the eagle is faced with the pain of knocking out its own beak so it can grow and extend its life to 30 more years. “No pain, no gain” is a life lesson for all of us. A rebirth of a new self takes the death of the old self.
In order to protect and nurture your mental health - the whole of your life, in fact - study the ways of the eagle. Be open to apply its example and lessons to your own life.
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