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Nina now stared in his eyes, they were large and brown. His pupils were dark black and nearly
filled his entire eye. He looked as though he could see forever. "You've watched me?" she
added.
"Yes girl—I've watched you, but I don't understand. You are capable of so much. I could tell you
stories for days of adventures and sights that have filled my life—that should fill yours. You were
created with such an unlimited potential—you simply don't belong in this yard for a day. You are
a beautiful and capable eagle. Can't you see that? Don't you believe me? Have you spent your
entire life here?"
Nina felt stronger now. Something was wrong with this eagle. Imagine him telling her she could
soar. Nina spoke, "So I'm an eagle and I can soar and do things you can show me that I have
never done? Is that right?"
"It's in you girl. Follow your feelings. Be natural. You're not a chicken, I promise."

"So then," Nina continued, since I'm an eagle, you're not going to hurt me."
"Of course not—what non-sense is that?"

"Well then," Nina confidently added, "Show me—step aside so I could leave if I chose to."
With that, the male eagle stepped back and out of Nina's path. She seized the opportunity and
made the best of her plan, running straight for the chicken house. Once inside she told the
chickens how she had out-smarted that dumb old eagle. They all laughed and rewarded her
with their chicken appreciation, "Your such a good smart chicken Nina!" The old rooster chicken
even spoke nicely to Nina, "I'm proud of you Nina—you certainly did outsmart that eagle."
By now, the moral to this story is obvious. Most of us have been conditioned to accept and
believe certain things that may, and likely do, betray their real potential. Like chickens in the
chicken yard, we have all been imprinted.
Behavioural scientists use this term to refer to the process whereby animals seek to be accepted
by imitating their peers. A duckling raised in a chicken yard will behave like a chicken, and so
forth. The advantage this story provides gives rise to this question: how many chicken beliefs limit
you now?
“Whatever you believe with emotion becomes your reality. Take charge of your beliefs
and you’ll take charge of your circumstances”.

EXERCISE | Change your perception | Change your outcome

The Perception we have about a person or event, feed the thoughts we have about them or it.
The thoughts we have create the emotions in our mind. Emotions are powerful. Left unchecked,
they forge our views of the person or event. Our views invariably lead to the action we take,
with positive or negative consequences. The action we take creates results.

Think of a person or event that is causing you stress or anxiety. With empathy and sympathy, try
replacing the perception you currently have with an alternative. Put yourself in the other persons
shoes to recreate their view of things. You can also do this to affirm that your perception is in
fact correct.
If you’re unhappy with the results you are getting, change your perceptions and watch the
results change with it.