Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. King Solomon
Foxes are generally considered to be opportunistic feeders that hunt live prey and kill them quickly by pouncing. I used this title as a metaphor to express the things we don’t always like to admit we have or are struggling with, those seemingly little or insignificant weaknesses locked away from the public eye to avoid any embarrassment. It represents a dark shadow we’ve tried many times to break away from with no success and have come to the conclusion that we no longer feel we have the power or choice to stop.
That’s what your body wants you to believe – that there’s nothing you can do about it. Some even take pride in their weaknesses instead of seeking support. The unfortunate result of this is that weakness ignored or locked away will explode someday. Your little fox is your other side that you are desperately shielding away from people who respect and honour you but secretly you’ve become its prey and it pounces on you at will.
There are a few things you need to know about your weakness.
1. The weakness, just like your strength needs attention too. You may have been advised before to concentrate on your strength and ignore your weakness. But the more you ignore it, the more strength it will have over you. My advice is that you give your weakness attention and seek support to turn it into a strength. Weakness not dealt with can develop into a weapon of mass destruction of your life.
2. The weakness is an opportunity for change, growth and discipline. It is a strength screaming for help and support to transform.
3. The weakness is a form of feedback – a reality check of where you are and what you are dealing with. It requires your action not your silence. “Sometimes, the greatest strength can be found in how you understand and confront your greatest weakness.” (Michael Springer)
4. The weakness is like a shadow. It follows you everywhere you go. Don’t for a second think a change of environment will make your weakness go away.
Catch the Fox
The first step towards catching the fox before it causes major damage to your blossoming life is to acknowledge your weakness and seek help. A lie thrives in darkness. Expose it and let the daylight cast away the shadow. You need time, patience and consistency to truly catch the fox. The change will not happen overnight but you need to be determined. Acknowledge every improvement. Don’t look at how far you still need to cover, rather, see how far you have come.
