How To Be A Dynamo

Deep in the jungle there once were two orphan monkeys. One was named Dynamo and the other was named Coy. Abandoned by their mother, they went their separate ways to learn how to fend for themselves. A warren of rabbits took in Dynamo monkey, while Coy monkey was taken in by a pride of lions.

Dynamo monkey was taught growing up to run when there’s danger. Eat only the food that is given to you. Only venture out into the world in the early morning. He believed himself to be a rabbit and that’s what rabbits did. No one else in his warren had ever thought to be more, so they never were. If he strayed from the rules, he was lectured and made to feel guilty.

Coy monkey was taught growing up that he had all the power in the world. He was taught that everyone in his pride had the ability to be the king of the jungle, but only one of them would be. He was taught that even the strongest of lions would not become king of the jungle if they did not walk like a king and lead the rest of the pride. He was taught to stand strong in the face of danger; to venture into the world whenever it was necessary. He was taught not to be content with what food was given to him, because as a leader, many times he had the responsibility of providing for the entire pride. He was taught to go after what food he wanted and he was encouraged to make his own rules. Everyone in his pride was always striving to be more and everyone strived to lead as the king of the jungle. He believed himself to be a lion and that’s what lions did. If he gave up being great for just one moment, his entire pride would be a reminder of that.

By the hand of fate, the two brothers met again one day. Can you guess what happened? Both monkeys were of the same size, same shape, the same jungle, and even from the same barrel of monkeys, but Coy monkey walked and thought like a lion, while Dynamo monkey walked and thought like a rabbit. When Dynamo monkey heard Coy walking through the jungle, he ran for safety. Cowering behind a thick shrubbery, he peered at Coy. “What an enormous and beautiful creature”, He thought, “If only I had been born as a lion…”

Coy recognized his brother in an instant and hurried over to give him a warm greeting. Dynamo monkey almost fled, but stunned by shock, he was frozen. If it had been a lion, his tenure as a rabbit would have surely ended that day. Coy gave him a big hug, almost crushing his fragile bones, and once Dynamo realized it was his brother, he wondered how Coy had become so much bigger, stronger, and more confident than himself. Coy monkey was always so scared as a baby monkey. He was the runt of the barrel and never challenged any of his larger brothers. How had he become so great and powerful?

In that moment, Dynamo realized that it was the creatures he surrounded himself with that helped to shape who he is today. He did not know that lions had taken Coy in, but from the way Coy walked, he knew that it was so. Ironically, Dynamo’s tenure as a rabbit didendthat day. Dynamo didn’t want to be a rabbit anymore. He didn’t want to hide from the world; run from every danger; live only when told. He wanted to be more. He wanted what his brother had. He wanted confidence, strength, and bravery. Maybe, with Coy’s help, the lion pride would take him in as well.

He knew, though, that if he didn’t change his attitude about himself and the world around him, nothing would change. If he approached the pride of lions like a rabbit, they would devour him whole. He made a decision that day to change how he viewed the world. He didn’t have to think like a lion, but he certainly didn’t have to think like a rabbit. Instead he thought like himself. He thought like Dynamo. He knew he was capable of everything any other creature was capable of and so he carried himself high; he ate well; he adventured long; and he spoke with pride. He was taken in by the pride of lions and eventually became the king of the jungle over all the other lions. He wasn’t bound by the thoughts of his rabbit family or his lion family, and so limits did not exist. He also surrounded himself only with creatures that would lift him up to higher grounds opposed to push him down to lower ones.

He became a King.

It’s the people we surround ourselves with that shape our reality. If you know who or what you want to be, surround yourself with like-minded individuals. If you want to be an actor, surround yourself with other actors. If you want to be a lawyer, surround yourself with other lawyers. If you want to be a musician, surround yourself with other musicians. If you want to be a leader, surround yourself with other leaders. Similarly, surround yourself with thieves, then you yourself will become a thief. Surround yourself with drug addicts and you may find yourself addicted to the bad habit. Surround yourself with bums and you may never leave your couch.