The Beavers Goal
A story about goal setting that we hope you enjoy. If we could only be like a beaver, most of us would be a lot better off in life. It's not hard to see why this furry guy should be our envy. But, for too many of us, we are not even close to being compared to its best qualities.Throughout the years, a lot of us are simply trying to survive. This is not to say that the beaver doesn't try to survive, but it does more than this. Take for example when it decides to tackle one of our maple trees down by the stream. And, this wasn't just a little tree either; in fact, it measured well over four feet in diameter.
The beaver needs to survive just like we do. It needs to eat and have a home. So, what makes it able to pass on a vital lesson to humans? Do you think it might be that this beaver wasn't afraid to tackle a tree this size. It simply could have picked a smaller one near by; maybe not as juicy; maybe not as big; and certainly one that wouldn't have provided all the necessary limbs and branches to help it make it's house.
I was surprised I must admit at the tenacity of this animal. Periodically, over the course of six months, I would go back and check on its progress. Each time I checked, the beaver had managed to chew more and more of the tree. And, even though I thought it had given up, it came back time after time and kept at it; I really wondered if it would ever succeed.
For me, this behaviour taught me several lessons. First of all, we all have to survive, eat and have a home. But, what was really said through this process was that while it could have taken the easy path to gain something, the gain would not be as great compared to the ultimate goal of chewing and falling the big tree.
It also showed me a lot about tenacity and perseverance. Sure the tree was big and couldn't be taken down in a few short days. But, did that stop our little friend from coming back day after day until the mission or goal was accomplished? The answer is no. Not only did this particular tenacity win in the long run but this consistent action succeeded in capturing a big prize that would serve its' needs for some time to come.
Don't you think your attitude and behaviour should be more like what a beaver does when faced with obstacles, or moving toward the accomplishment of your dreams? When you are setting your goals, remember the lessons taught by a non-human and how this can lead to success.