The Lion Within

What are your initial thoughts when you look at the picture above?

A battered lion returning from a fight. Ferocious and victorious, but weathered. Still dominant, but visibly worn down. King of the jungle, but pushed to the brink.

What we know without question is that the most feared of all animals had a tough day. Even the king gets into battles and tough fights. Even the king suffers wounds, gets knocked backwards, fights for what he believes in and is forced to prove his dominance time and time again. Even the king is forced to prove his toughness and prove his talents every single day. Each day is life and death for a lion. No matter how tough or how strong, they must demonstrate their superiority.

No one in the jungle buys into perceptions. No one will avoid challenging the lion based on reputation alone. They must prove their toughness with their actions, with their performance. Perception has no place in the jungle. Lions want to prove their dominance, prove that the moniker they wear is real.

We should examine this picture regularly as a reminder of what lies before us, internally and externally. Our daily challenges are vastly different than those of a lion; yet, we must have the same approach toward being the best in everything we do, or else it could prove costly. We must understand there will be bad days, battles, huge scars, which should NEVER deter us, only make us stronger. We must also understand that perceptions are meaningless — proving yourself each day is what matters most. No one in any part of life can survive on perceptions alone. The proof lies in our daily work.

Each day before we start, let’s think of the lion in this picture and know that regardless of what happens, we can still be the king of our own life.