Leaps of Faith: What I Learned from a Squirrel

Some mornings I watch a squirrel from my window. The squirrel has a morning routine of navigating from one cluster of trees to another cluster of trees. I suspect it is scavenging for food.

To get to the other cluster of trees, the squirrel climbs and jumps from the same series of trees and branches every morning. It is an impressive process to watch. The squirrel knows the branches that can hold its weight and the branches that are not sturdy, but can propel it to a sturdier branch. The squirrel climbs, jumps, glides and lands over and over again until it reaches its destination.

The squirrel's morning routine teaches a valuable life lesson: sometimes, you need to take leaps of faith to achieve your goals.

Like the tree branches, life circumstances or professional opportunities may not be sturdy or reliable. Some experiences may provide significant development and growth opportunities and others may serve as preparation for the next step in your journey. Both are valuable because they both help you reach your destination.

Like the squirrel, do not be afraid to take leaps of faith. Use the momentum from your skills, talents and experiences to propel you forward. Have faith that you understand yourself and your environment well enough to know when to climb, when to jump, when to glide and where you can land safely.