Mindset story: Do not waddle through life when you can fly

In a peaceful little town, nestled between wide green fields and a glistening river, lived a community of ducks. Life in the town was simple and predictable. The ducks had cozy little homes, neatly arranged along the cobbled streets, and every Sunday, they followed the same tradition. When the morning sun rose and the bell from the duck church rang, the ducks waddled out of their houses. With their feathers neatly groomed and their best Sunday expressions on their beaks, they waddled together down the main street. Side by side, they made their way to the grand duck church, where they found their usual places in the wooden pews, settling in with gentle flutters of their wings. The duck choir waddled in, positioned themselves in perfect rows, and began to sing a beautiful hymn. Their voices filled the sanctuary, rising to the high wooden beams of the church ceiling. After the song, the duck minister stepped forward. With great reverence, he opened the Duck Bible, a book filled with wisdom passed down through generations. Clearing his throat, the duck minister began to preach with passion, “Ducks! You are blessed! God has given you wings! With wings, you can fly high into the sky. You are not meant to waddle on the ground forever! No walls can confine you. No fences can hold you back. You are not prisoners of this land, you are creatures of the sky!” A wave of excitement spread through the church. The ducks, deeply moved, nodded their heads and flapped their wings in agreement. “You were meant to soar like the mighty eagles, to ride the wind, to explore the endless skies! Why should you remain bound to the ground when you have been gifted with the ability to fly?” “Amen!” the ducks quacked together, their voices filled with enthusiasm.

The minister continued, his words growing stronger. He reminded them of their ancestors, ducks who had once taken to the skies, ducks who had crossed great lakes and vast meadows. He urged them to believe in themselves, to embrace their gifts, to fly! The ducks were amazed. Some flapped their wings excitedly, while others looked around, feeling a strange sense of inspiration and determination. They had heard sermons before, but today’s message felt different. It moved them. When the service ended, the ducks did not leave right away. They stayed behind, gathering in small groups, discussing the powerful words they had just heard. “What an incredible sermon!” one duck exclaimed. “Yes! Imagine if we all truly believed it, we could fly anywhere!” said another. “The minister is so wise,” an older duck added. “He always knows exactly what to say to remind us of our true potential.” The minister, hearing their praises, felt a deep sense of pride. He had done his job well. He had delivered the truth, and his congregation had received it with open hearts. After some more chatter, the ducks slowly began to leave. They made their way to the door, stepping outside into the warm afternoon sun. The sky stretched wide and blue above them, a vast and open space just waiting to be explored. And then, as they had done every Sunday before, all the ducks waddled home. Not one duck flew that day. Not one duck spread its wings to soar above the town, to rise above the fences and streets, to feel the wind rush beneath its feathers. They had heard the message, they had agreed with the message, but they had not acted on the message. Week after week, they would return to the duck church, listen to the same powerful words, and feel the same inspiration. But they never flew.