Lessons From the Geese

[Guest guest]

Found this on the web. My thanks to Angeles Arrien

 

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This Fall, when you see geese heading south for the winter flying

along in "V" formation, you might consider what science has

discovered as to why they fly that way and how it applies to us

humans.

 

 

 

FACT: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an "uplift" for the

bird immediately following. By flying in a "V" formation, the whole

flock has at least 71% greater flying range than if each bird flew

on it's own.

 

LESSON: People who share a common direction and sense of community

can get where they are going more quickly and easily because they

are traveling on the thrust of one another.

 

 

FACT: When a goose flies out of formation, it suddenly feels the

drag and resistance of trying to go it alone. It quickly gets back

into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird in

front of it.

 

LESSON: If we have as much common sense as a goose, we stay in

formation with those headed where we want to go. We are willing to

accept their help and give our help to others. It is harder to do

something alone than together.

 

 

FACT: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the

formation, and another goose flies to the point position.

 

LESSON: It is sensible to take turns doing the hard and demanding

tasks and sharing leadership. As with geese, people are

interdependent of each others skills, capabilities, and unique

arrangements of gifts, talents, or resources.

 

 

FACT: The geese flying in formation honk from behind to encourage

those up front to keep up their speed.

 

LESSON: We need to make sure our honking is encouraging. In groups

where there is encouragement, the production is much greater. The

power of encouragement (to stand by one's heart or core values and

encourage the heart and core of others) is the quality of honking we

seek. We need to make sure our honking is encouraging and not

discouraging.

 

 

FACT: When a goose gets sick, wounded, or shot down, two other geese

will drop out of formation with that goose and follow it down to

lend help and protection. They stay with the fallen goose until it

dies or is able to fly again. Then, they launch out on their own, or

with another formation to catch up with their flock.

 

LESSON: If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by our

colleagues and each other in difficult times as well as in good!

 

 

~ By Angeles Arrien ~