There is something incredibly profound about the idea that our limitations are often just illusions created by trying to follow someone else's flight path. When William Blake wrote that no bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings, he was touching on the very essence of authenticity. It reminds us that the height of our success or the depth of our joy isn't measured by how much we mimic others, but by how much we trust our own natural strength and unique abilities. When we use our own wings, the wind might feel different and the journey might take longer, but the flight is truly ours.

In our everyday lives, it is so easy to get caught up in the 'shoulds.' We feel we should be at a certain career level by thirty, or we should have a specific type of lifestyle that looks beautiful on a social media feed. We often try to borrow the wings of others, attempting to fly using their ambitions and their metrics for success. But when we do that, we find ourselves exhausted and breathless, feeling as though we are constantly struggling against a current that wasn't meant for us. We reach heights that feel hollow because they don't belong to our true selves.

I remember a time when I felt quite lost, trying to force myself into a mold that just didn't fit my personality. I was attempting to be much more loud and assertive, thinking that was the only way to be heard, much like a bird trying to mimic a hawk when I am much more of a gentle duck. I was working so hard to reach a 'high' standard that I was actually losing my sense of peace. It wasn't until I stopped looking at what everyone else was doing and started focusing on my own small, steady steps that I found my rhythm again. I realized that my own wings, though they might carry me at a different pace, are perfectly capable of reaching my own version of the sky.

As you move through your week, I want you to take a moment to check in with your wings. Are you pushing yourself toward a goal that actually resonates with your soul, or are you just trying to keep up with the flock around you? There is no shame in a different altitude, as long as you are the one providing the power. Take a deep breath and trust that your unique capabilities are enough to carry you exactly where you need to be. You don't need to be the highest flyer in the sky; you just need to be the most authentic version of yourself.