Counseling expert Gary Collins tells a humorous but sad story of how Jonah, a goldfish, was so accustomed to the size of his fish bowl that when placed in a bathtub filled with water, representing a whole new world that could be explored, he chose to stay in one corner and swim in circles which were approximately the same size as his bowl. Collins stated, “A lot of people are like Jonah, going in circles, staying with the familiar routines, oblivious of the opportunities to move away from their secure little comfort zones.” Some people find themselves trapped by self-inflicted limits similar to Jonah, stuck in a holding pattern that keeps them from stepping towards their goals. They don’t have to be! With a little courage, vision, and determination they can break through their barriers and commit to taking action toward their goals and aspirations. They have the ability to break free, but often times, the critical key is that they have a leader encouraging them to do so.
As you lead the people in your care, make sure to help them see beyond their goldfish-bowl-sized world in order to discover that there is a universe waiting for them to explore. Help them, and yourself, to avoid being a goldfish.
Lead well.