If you’re seeking solutions to life’s usual circus, look no further than the bowels of the internet to serve up a shit-ton of eager experts with their spiritual sap.
You might know them by their greatest hits, including:
“Good vibes only.”
“What is meant to be will find a way.”
“The universe has your back.”
or
“The most creative act you will ever undertake is the act of creating yourself.”
And if that drivel doesn’t bowl you over, the $300+ price tag on their courses on soul detox just might.
While their approach has attracted hundreds of thousands of followers, there are far more qualified coaches out there if you’re willing to peek outside the box.
Granted, you’ll have to accept that they have no degrees.
Nor do they hold any professional certifications.
They also don’t know a thing about inspirational quotes.
And they don’t give a damn about “The Secret.”
But they CAN crush your skull like a hardy Halloween pumpkin.
I don’t know about you, but if I’m foraging for life advice, it’s from somebirdy living in the trenches, brawling on the daily & one that can crunch my cranium like a Flintstone vitamin.
Because THAT’s true grit.
THAT’s the combination of confidence, conviction & courage you need when it comes to tackling life’s toughest challenges.
And THAT’s why I present to you the world’s most powerful mentor – the Harpy Eagle.
Know your Guru
Harpy Eagles are massive raptors native to the Amazonian forests of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia & Brazil.
And did I mention they’re gorgeous?
Just look at this handsome sonuvagun.
If there mere sight of these behemoths doesn’t impress you, maybe their stats will:
- They stand an average of 3 to 3.5 feet tall with a wingspan of 6 to 7 feet – about as tall as the average 3-year-old & as wide as a king size bed.
- Males weigh an average of 10 pounds while females clock in closer to 20 pounds.
- Their rear talons are 3 to 4 inches long – the same length as a grizzly bear’s claws.
- They have a grip strength of appproximately 530 psi – more than enough to crush the human skull & squash your brain like a grape.
With that Toolbox of Terror, they’re well equipped to obliterate their prey, which includes (but isn’t limited to) howler monkeys, capuchins, spider monkeys, opossums & two- and three-toed sloths.
If you want to be blown out of your seat, just watch this bruiser in action:
OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH shhhhhiii -oooot!
Poor thing never stood a chance.
From tragedy – a life lesson
While these powerhouses can school us on many a life lesson, their ability to face a challenge with formidable swagger may well be at the top of the list.
Make no mistake – that sloth was no small feat. In fact, it probably weighed as much as the eagle itself.
But that Harpy didn’t shy away.
Rather, it keyed in on a prodigious prospect – a goal that most would deem unreachable – and executed it like a champ.
It didn’t ask permission, it didn’t wonder if it “deserved” to succeed & it didn’t hesitate on approach.
It calculated its options & made a conscious effort to charge full-steam ahead.
But that’s only part of the story….
You see, as powerful as Harpy Eagles may be, even they aren’t successful 100% of the time.
Sometimes, their prey fights back.
And if their prey is positioned just right, they may live to see another day.
But that’s how life work, folks.
Even the queen of all raptors has to accept failure from time to time.
But if you think they withdraw into the Amazon feeling defeated – think again.
Failure only makes them stronger, more proficient & tenacious hunters.
In fact, nothing short of habitat destruction & persecution is going to hold these hellions back.
And that right there is the kind of chutzpah we need when we’re pouncing on life’s rubbish like a puma on a mule deer.
Take home message
Just like surviving in the Amazon, your life requires an unshakable faith in your abilities.
A belief that success is yours for the taking.
An acceptance that failure isn’t permanent – but a simple stumbling block to the next decadent sloth.
When you’re striving for a goal & your neurons are firing on all cylinders, you can’t sit back and twiddle your opposable thumbs.
You can’t wait to ask permission or wonder if you deserve the reward.
You only have time to calculate your best plan of action & plow ahead with all the grit of the world’s largest eagle.
Just be sure to guard your brain – no doubt you’ll need it for the rest of the ride.