“There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud,” once remarked Carl Sandburg.

I believe that there is a purpose for greatness that creation intended for everyone. No one was ever created to wallow in the mud of failure and mediocrity.
In all of us, there is an obvious, unquestionable DNA of greatness; we have it deep within. Nothing and no one can erase your duty to greatness. You have to serve a specific purpose and you have the right traits and qualities that you require to fulfil that purpose.
Believe it now that you can become better and foster a culture of perpetual betterment. In 2008, Myles Munroe discovered amazing attributes from the interesting nature of eagles, and this week I bring you these lessons in a fashion tailored for extensive self-introspection, as I desire to revive and unlock the eagle within you so that you soar high and release your true greatness.

How far does your vision go?
How big is your vision for greatness? What key purpose are you serving in our great nation?
For us to be particularly successful we need to have a vision that sees far and stick to that vision when times get hard. You need to prepare for posterity.
Learn from the eagles: eagles have strong vision, which focuses up to five kilometres from the air. When an eagle sights prey — even a rodent from this distance — it narrows its focus on it and sets out to get it.

No matter the obstacle, the eagle will not move its focus from the prey until it grabs it. Your desire to accomplish a particular vision should go beyond any obstacles that may be standing in your way.
No matter what challenges come your way, keep at the battle. Do not tear your books simply because you have failed an in-class test. Better battles await your accomplishment. It is your task to keep at the vision in the face of obstacles.

What value do you place on yourself? 
An interesting attribute about eagles is that they do not eat dead things. They feed on fresh prey, which means they are not lazy to go on a hunt. Never be so desperate that you consume anything that is thrown at you. Remember, you are an eagle and you need to hunt your goals and enjoy them fresh like eagles enjoy their fresh prey.

Eagles never complain during a hunt and settle for less like the vultures that eat dead animals. Stay clear of short cuts that fill your tummy with rotten things.
In practical terms, you may be seeking a job, but if getting the job requires you to consume a rotten portion of steak, then it is better to remain in the hunt. Do not compromise yourself to the extent of forgetting your true worth.

Who do you associate yourself with?
I have written extensively on this subject in this column. Success and failure are both contagious. Eagles fly alone at high altitude and do not mix with sparrows or other lesser birds like geese.

Birds of a feather flock together. No other bird flies as high as the eagle. Eagles fly alone. Using Jack Canfield’s outline of the law of averages, your character is the average of the attributes of the top five people you spend your time with.
So, if your top five is a union of time-wasters, then it is almost certain that you, too, are not a good time manager. Vet your associations and associate yourself with eagles like yourself.

Do you see opportunities in difficulties?
What do you do in your life when storms arise? Achievers are people who can draw profit from challenges. The eagle is the only bird that loves the storm.
When clouds gather, the eagles get excited. The eagle uses the wings of the storm to rise and is pushed up higher.
Once it finds the wing of the storm, the eagle stops flapping and uses the pressure of the raging storm to soar and glide. This gives the eagle an opportunity to rest its wings.

In the meantime, all the other birds hide in tree leaves and branches. The next time a challenge is thrown into your path towards greatness, do not weep, rather stand up and determine how you can bring good out of it all.

How do you react when you fall?
I know that at times we all fall in our lives. We may fall in our desire to do what is necessary, and we sometimes settle for what is easy.
Sometimes our fall can be so grave as insolvency and bankruptcy. Whenever eagles lose their touch and grow weary, they find a place of renewal. When the eagle grows old, its feathers become weak and cannot take it as fast as it should.

When it feels weak and about to die, it retires to a place far away in the rocks. While there, it plucks out every feather on its body until it is completely bare. It stays in this hiding place until it has grown new feathers and then it comes out. We, too, need to occasionally separate ourselves from the fury of things to clear our mind and find our path. Afford yourself a chance to put things into good perspective whenever you feel worn out and ready to give up.

Do you take time to research before you make decisions?

At times we make bad decisions solely due to lack of information. Sometimes, too, we are too quick to trust before we test.
The eagle tests before it trusts. Usually, before mating, a female eagle flies down to earth with the male pursuing her and she picks a twig.
She flies back into the air with the male pursuing her. Once she has reached a height high enough for her, she lets the twig fall to the ground and watches it as it falls.

The male chases after the twig. The faster it falls, the faster he chases until he reaches it. He has to catch it before it falls to the ground, and then bring it back to the female eagle.

The female eagle grabs the twig and flies to a much higher altitude pursued by the male, until she perceives it high enough, and then drops the twig for the male to chase. This goes on for hours, with the height increasing until the female eagle is assured that the male eagle has mastered the art of picking the twig, which shows commitment; then, and only then, will she allow him to mate with her. Watch the people you engage with in your life as in your business. But through it all, remember that you are great, you are an eagle.

Even youth grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40)

• Muyeche Chrispen is a motivational author and conference speaker. Link up with Chris by emailing chrismuyeche@yahoo.com and find him on facebook.