Lessons from Mordecai, our Cat

I recently worked my 40th day from home. In the Bible, 40 is significant. It rained 40 days, flooding the Earth (Genesis 7:12). Jesus was tempted for 40 days and nights (Matthew 4). After Jesus died on the cross, He appeared for a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3). Believe it or not, there are well over 100 mentions of 40 in the Bible according to a quick internet search.

Strange things happen when you work from home. It’s easy to adopt a deficit mindset, but you don’t have to. For instance, you can make adjustments. You can get more creative about solutions to your barriers. You complete projects and create more projects to complete. You observe behavior.

We have had mostly great pleasure observing our cat, Mordecai (mostly because incessant licking and scratching are not pleasant to us). When he wakes, he is incredibly sweet and loving. I would dare say that is his most affectionate time. He typically alerts us to his half-filled bowl of food and near-empty water bowl. Often, he gets a treat for coming to snapped fingers. Those are all cool and good. It’s what happens next, though, that I think Mordy can teach us a thing or two.

Mordy does not seem to see himself as a domestic cat. We have all seen the memes of cats looking into the mirror and seeing themselves as a lion. Well, let’s use a tiger just because . . .

In his own eyes, I think Mordy sees himself as a stone-cold killer. He is a hunter. He spends most of the day running and jumping from open blind to open blind, chasing the thoughts of catching birds or fighting neighborhood cats.

Mordy is serious about it. If you listen to him, you occasionally hear him do this clicking thing. His tail snaps back and forth so much so that you get smacked if you’re sitting nearby. He is a hunter, and he means business when he hunts. If you interrupt him, Mordy communicates he is annoyed. He’s not happy.

Despite being perhaps one of the least successful hunters in the worlds (let’s face it—he may have killed some bugs), he does not give up. With each new morning, he is back at it. Ready. Eager. Positive.

What can we learn from Mordecai the Hunter?

How do you define yourself? How do you see yourself? Remember, Mordy doesn’t see himself as just a cat. He sees himself as more than that. When you talk about yourself, you have to be careful with the language you use. Your language and outlook matters. If you notice a problem (e.g., maybe you’re being negative about who you are, or things will not get better, or that you lack potential), switch it around and use stronger words. Force yourself to see yourself differently. The Bible says to take captive every thought. If you’re really stuck, get with a coach or counselor if necessary. Change is hard; it’s okay to get help.

What do you want? Are you consistent and persistent with your goals? Mordy is clear about what he’s doing on a daily basis. Are you clear?

Are you planning to start or quitting the plan?

You know your dreams. Identify them. Write them down. Tell someone. Be SMART about them. For example, I have always wanted to write a book. Little by little, I have written nearly 5,000 words of a fictional story. This is the first creative thing I’ve written in more than 20 years!

Ask yourself: Why not?

If you no longer find excuses when you ask yourself that question, then start. Stay with it. Lots of times, change takes time. If you drift away from whatever you want to do, get back to it as soon as possible.

What would Mordecai do?

Without doubt, he will hunt.

Folks, right now is the best time to do something different. Start with how you see yourself. Figure out what you want. Take action. Change is hard, but you can do this. No more excuses. The time is now. Release your inner tiger (yeah, I went there).

#Bible #Jesus #cats #tigers #goals #start