I was recently in Cornwall helping a friend move house.  The house had been empty for a while and as we carried her things in, we heard strange noises from one of the upstairs bedrooms. 

At first we didn't know what was making the scary combination of frantic flapping, scurrying and loud thumps.  It was a small bird, very distressed and frantically making multiple breaks for freedom, but hitting hard against the windows and always falling back to the floor. 

We rushed to the windows and struggled to heave the heavy sashes open wide to give the bird the best shot of escape.  I noticed there was another bird perched on a telephone wire outside and I couldn't help but wonder if this bird recognised the drama unfolding and was urging the trapped bird to break free.

Meanwhile inside, my friend and I were comically trying to shoo the bird towards the open windows whilst it repeatedly and painfully flew against the only fixed pane of glass in the room.  This continued for some time and I worried his little heart would burst, or else his head wouldn't take much more of the hammering.  

Eventually, everything went quiet and I thought my fears were realised.  I peered under the bed, the only piece of furniture in the room, and saw the little bird sitting quietly looking at the windows. 

I wondered what to do next and suddenly the bird flew past me, straight out of the window my friend was holding open.

It seemed he suddenly worked it out!

FREEDOM!!! 

This victory gave my friend and I huge cause for celebration, we laughed, teared up with relief and danced around the room.  When we calmed down, I reflected how invested we were in that little bird's escape and yet he didn't know we were there to help and initially must have added to his distress.

It made me wonder how often I've hurtled head long against barriers, determined I was going to force my way forward only to come crashing down, battered, multiple times.  If I'd stopped to look around, would I have found someone to help, someone holding open a window for me?

If you're tired of crashing against unseen barriers, stop and reflect.  Ask yourself 'who can help?', take a good look around, you might find someone opening a window for you that you hadn't seen before.

I'll be delighted to help you find your 'open window', drop me a note and let's talk about what you're determined to change in your life or career.