Kites need strings. So do we.

This spring day would be very different without strings.

Have you ever flown a kite without a string?

Are you now thinking, that's the dumbest question you've read all week? Kites need string just as pizza needs dough. 

We can learn a life lesson from the simple pleasure of flying a kite. In the world of kites, the string isn’t a limitation – it’s a necessary ingredient to a high flying and controlled kite. 

Without spooled string and an intentional hand to wield it, our kite endeavor would be a non-starter. Perhaps the kite would blow into the trees or cartwheel down the lawn in a strong gust. Or even more anti-climactically, stay in the box forever.

Although humans are more complex than a kite, it behooves us to find our own version of a string to navigate the unpredictable and capricious winds of life. The form, of course, must be tailor made for our situation, goals and personality. 

Perhaps we need a spiritual or philosophical practice to align our actions. Alternatively the key may lie in a foundational habit upon which to scaffold our days. Maybe we need a big, audacious goal that pulls us inexorably forward.

Much like the kite’s string, whatever we implement to achieve our goals could be seen as a constraint – something that limits movement or choices. Seen another way, our freely chosen constraints can be what actually liberate us from the bonds of self-defeating habits. 

As a coach, I’ve seen first-hand the incredible power of intention and self-imposed structure to create transformation for my clients. With a north-star to guide our actions, and the right guardrails in place, the path forward becomes clearer.

When we can see freedom in limitations, the question becomes:

What constraint could empower our intentions?

The kite needs a string. So do we.