You Are a Swan |
By Thomas C. Corley on Jan 10, 2017
In Hans Christian Anderersen’s classic The Ugly Duckling, a
swan is born into a family of ducks. He is perceived by the other ducks
on the farm as an ugly duckling. They tease and belittle the ugly
duckling relentlessly. Wherever he goes on the farm, the ugly duckling
encounters other animals who shun him for the same reason. Because he is
made to feel like he does not fit in, he runs away from the farm. While
sitting alongside another pond, he encounters a group of elegant white
birds. The ugly duckling sees how beautiful they are and aspires to one
day be as beautiful as them.
After
a long, cold and lonely winter, the isolated ugly duckling, now fully
grown, decides to swim out to the group of elegant white birds, hoping
they will not shun him. To his great surprise they allow him to swim
along with them, welcoming him into their flock.
One
morning, while swimming along with his new friends he happens to catch a
glimpse of his reflection in the water and realizes that he wasn’t a
duck after all – he has grown to be the most beautiful swan in the pond.
Many
are born Ugly Ducklings. When you surround yourself with others who
make you feel bad about yourself, you will remain an ugly duckling.
You
can allow the circumstances you were born into control your life. Or,
you can devote your life to changing your life circumstances. You can
seek out others who make you feel good about yourself. I’ve seen it in
the stories of the hundreds of ugly ducklings in my study who went on to
become self-made millionaires. These individuals, many of whom were
born into poverty, found other swans who made them feel good about
themselves and helped them see their inner swan.
Do
not accept your circumstances in life. Take control of your life. Seek
to be exceptional. Never stop growing, learning and improving. Surround
yourself with other success-minded people, other swans. Inside each one
of us is a beautiful swan waiting to burst forth.
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