Go Get It

I absolutely love object lessons. An object lesson can provide a unique viewpoint by providing a tangible object to illustrate a teaching or principle. The amazing aspect of using an object lesson is the power of association. Each time you see an image that correlates with that particular subject, the teaching or principle will be reinforced and renewed in the mind.

The start of a New Year always brings the thought of resolutions. What were the goals you set for the year? Have you begun working on your to do list? Maybe you know what you want, but you're unsure of how to get it. Well, let's take some inspiration from these big cats.

Leopards generally hunt alone. They are risk averse, so you will not find these lovely cats engaging in a confrontational battle. A leopard's night vision is 7 times better than that of humans. They are nocturnal creatures, knowing their advantages, most of their hunting occurs at night. They pick animals that are smaller and defenseless. These creatures are able to adapt during the chase and this allows them to make reassessments and modify their intended target. They specialize in stalking their prey from a few hundred me

ters away, hunting in stealth mode, and capturing their food by an ambush or using the element of surprise. They are agile climbers so larger, captured prey is usually taken high on tree limbs to avoid the risk of having a battle over the carcasses of dead animals with stronger predators.

Cheetahs hunt alone and in packs. They are the only diurnal animal, they have poor night vision in comparison with other big cats so hunting occurs at dusk and dawn; this also allows them to escape the high temperatures of the day. Their superpower is their wit and speed. They will stalk their prey from a vantage point that allows them to observe while remaining out of eye sight. They approach their prey downwind to avoid being detected by grazing herds. Although a cheetah can run up to speeds of 70 mph this speed can only be maintained for 20 - 30 seconds; so they will sprint toward their prey but will not exert full speed unless the target is within an attainable distance. Due to their inability to ward off battles from other predators, they will eat their prey immediately after the kill.

Lions can hunt singly, but they are most successful when they work together; this is why hunting is primarily done in packs. Their superpower is their strength. Females are the assigned hunters because of their strength and smaller size, in comparison with their male counterparts, this allows them to be concealed in tall grasslands. These big cats utilize the stalking technique as well. When the lionesses hunt, they pay close attention to one another. When a lioness spots a potential target she makes eye contact with it, the other lionesses take note and begin to surround the prey, preparing an ambush. The lioness charges and utilizes her strength to render her prey unable to escape by tearing into the animal's backside. This signals the other lionesses to move in for the kill. When the male lion joins in on a hunt, this approach is abandoned and the lions utilize a direct approach so the attack is straight forward. Sheer strength is the hunting tactic.

We all have our individual strengths and weaknesses similar to these feline predators. When setting your goals for the year, assess your gifts, talents and abilities. What hunting technique can you use to make your goals attainable? Which strategies would you adopt from our friends in the wild to make your vision a reality? What's holding you back from accomplishing your dreams? 

We're embarking on this wonderful journey together to find our voice, become inspired, realize our dreams and encourage someone else to do the same. How amazing would your life be if you gave yourself permission to become the best version of yourself? I'm all in! Won't you join me? Ready. Set. Unmute.