The song entitled “The Eye of the Tiger” by the group Survivor was made popular in the “Rocky” film series.  This iconic series of films is famous for depicting the rise of boxer ‘Rocky Balboa’ up from obscurity into the limelight.  In each movie, Rocky is faced with a daunting fight against nearly impossible odds of success.  In each situation, Rocky must find the fire that burns deep within his soul to unleash the relentless intensity of his desire to succeed.

The journey of Rocky is frequently pointed to as a metaphor for the struggle that each person faces to find their place in the world.  Many of us relate to the experiences of Rocky simultaneously struggling against the strength of his opponent, along with his own doubt and fear.  In each situation, there are many people telling Rocky that he can’t win, or that he is too old, or that he should quit.  As the film goes on, it becomes apparent that the fight is really about Rocky focusing all of his efforts on the one part of his life that he can control, while living in the midst of a world that is constantly out of control.  In the end he is able to summon all of his strength to bear and overcome the challenges before him.

This metaphor is very fitting for each of us in the pursuit of our goals and desires.  Will we allow the weight of the world to hold us down in obscurity?  Will we tacitly accept our circumstances as inevitable?  Or will we develop the ‘Eye of the Tiger’ . . . the relentless intensity of a jungle cat who must constantly fight for its survival.  If we are willing to focus our desires and pursue them with enough drive and determination to overcome obstacles, setbacks, and our own doubts, then there is no limit to what we can accomplish.