THE HIGHER WE SOAR

 “The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.”

Ever since I came across this quote by one of the greatest philosophers of all time, Friedrich Nietzsche, I have not been able to get it off my mind. It has quickly become my favourite quote that I find myself thinking about often.

This short, simple line carries a deep and impactful message. When you really reflect upon it, the truth of this simple statement will hit you like a punch to the gut.

A similar quote that I absolutely love is also possibly attributed to Nietzche:  "And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."

Everyone will have their own perspective and their own interpretation of these lines. Every person’s lived experiences will influence how they perceive this message. I will talk about my interpretation of this brilliant quote in this blog. Let’s break it down:

1. The first part of this quote is: “The higher we soar” 

What do you think this means? To me, these words refer to new and unique ideas, goals, aspirations, career paths, etc; unheard of before and not pursued by many people. Any kind of trailblazers who think out of the box or anything that strays from society’s rigid standards. These people and their ideas soar high in the sky, above the ordinary society.

2. The next part of the quote is: “The smaller we appear to those who cannot fly”

What do you think this part can mean? This part refers to how these different aspirations are beyond the reach of society’s narrow vision. People who cannot understand or comprehend these new ideas or aspirations are the ones who cannot fly, the ones who have no original ideas of their own. To these people, the high soaring individuals seem very small and their dreams far-fetched and hard to grasp.

This is why anyone who tries anything new is met with immediate and severe resistance. These creative people and ideas are simply flying too high for the ordinary to realise. Uninspired individuals with their feet firmly attached to the ground judge the ones flying high and try to bring them down.

Don’t be afraid to think differently. If you have ideas or an identity that doesn’t fit into the small box of society’s rules, don’t let the cynics drag your feet to the ground. Break free and fly; soar above the dull, ordinary minds that oppose you- they will never truly be able to fully comprehend your aspirations and dreams.

Believe in what Zig Ziglar said, “Don’t let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of yours.” Take risks, go down the road not taken, and if you meet resistance- know that you’re on the right path. Soar high!