Don’t confuse me with the facts, my mind’s made up..
Our cognitive development as children has numerous influences including parents, family dynamics, culture and environment. Client experience suggests views of life change with age, but some thinking appears ingrained..
There’s a curious parallel in the bird world, among Common Garden Warblers. They undertake long migrations to sub-Saharan Africa, increasing bodyweight by up to 65% beforehand
Garden Warblers prepare for their long-distance migrations through several key behaviours and physiological adaptations
They undergo hyperphagia, consuming large amounts of food to build up substantial fat reserves, which serve as their primary energy source during migration. They can more than double their body weight before departure
Their internal organs adapt to migration demands. Flight muscles and the heart increase in size, while digestive organs shrink to reduce weight. These changes are reversed during stopovers, when they refuel
During migration, they stopover in Europe and Africa to rest and replenish energy reserves
Garden Warblers adjust their sleep patterns to conserve energy. Lean individuals adopt a tucked posture during sleep to minimize heat loss, those with larger energy reserves sleep untucked for better vigilance against predators
They choose favourable tailwind conditions for efficient long-distance flights, minimizing energy expenditure
Here’s the thing: captive Garden Warblers gain weight in exactly the same way, for a journey they will never make!
Astonishingly, precisely when the wild Warblers reach their destination, the captive birds lose their fat entirely, despite never having made the 4,000 mile flight.!
We regularly encounter something similar in family legacy planning where the default is ‘It’s what my parents did’
Reality check: what worked for them likely won’t work for you! Arrange your FREE power-hour discussion here. You’re free to accept, or refuse, and there’s no obligation whatsoever
Toodle Pip
