A Lion Mentality
The unflinching mindset that emanates power and authority.
A thought from a Sunday. Many of us are familiar with the Lion King TV shows and films. And I’ve heard in numerous motivation speeches and talks that we ought to be like a lion, and go after our dreams. So I wonder what is it about the lion that is so special that we came to refer to it as a symbol of strength, and why do we call the lion — the king of the jungle?
A lion is not the biggest animal in the jungle, plenty of animals surpass it in size. The elephant is perhaps the biggest.
A lion is not the fastest animal in the jungle, many animals can outrun it with ease. The Cheetah is perhaps the fastest.
A lion is not the smartest animal in the jungle either, many land creatures can outsmart it. The great ape is perhaps the brainiest.
Unlike the packs of wolves or hyenas that hunt and intimidate with numbers and collective wit, a lion is a loner.
So why is the lion the king then? What makes him command such fear and respect, that all the other animals bow in reverence and avoid at all costs?
It’s because of its mentality.
A lion doesn’t wear its deficiency and shortcomings around. When a lion looks at an elephant, it thinks of lunch, the elephant thinks of running away. It stands to exude confidence and fearlessness, it shows no signs of weakness (not because it doesn’t have any), it doesn’t back down from challenges, it embraces all circumstances with poise and assurance, believing in itself to possess the power to conquer it. There isn’t self-doubt, hesitation, it doesn't make excuses, a lion confronts its enemy head-on, staring them down with fearsome eyes, and a posture that exudes power and bravery.
We ought to adopt a lion’s mentality in our struggle with obstacles in life. Too often, we crumble in the face of difficulties and uncertainties. Bad things, unfortunate events, unexpected turns are all enemies who stare us down to submission, enslaving us to misery and despondency. A lion’s mentality is the adaptation of a fighter’s mindset we all desperately need to combat the tumultuous terrains of life.
