Leopard Never Changes its Spots
While a leopard isn’t the fastest animal on earth, it is pretty quick, being able to reach speeds of nearly 60 kph. It is also known for the saying “A leopard never changes its spots,” which originates from the Bible (Jeremiah 13:23).
The saying mirrors the thinking that certain characteristics, especially deeply ingrained ones, are resistant to change.
A friend of mine has an irritating habit of making plans to catch up via the phone, usually a good hour’s chat. Something I have to plan for in my day to make time for, and he fails to show. Just doesn’t show up, no prior apologies or requests to alter the arrangement.
It happens often, and when it does, I think about that leopard and its spots.
We humans have many core traits, habits, or tendencies that are deeply entrenched in our lives and may find it difficult to change.
We keep on doing the things we have always done them.
Although the saying doesn’t imply change is not possible, it points out that to make changes, it is going to take a lot of effort and persistence.
Here are some tips to consider when faced with the realization we are not perfect and that there is an opportunity for personal growth
- Recognizing our strengths and weaknesses allows us to identify intrinsically, according to our nature, where to focus on leveraging our strengths and to apply our efforts to improve our weaknesses.
- Next, acceptance of who you are and what is unable to be changed provides us the opportunity to grow in areas we can control. For example, we might not be able to run a 4-minute mile; however, we can learn the skills required to train to be someone who can.
- The saying serves as a reminder that some habits are deeply ingrained into our daily lives; it will take a high level of motivation and extra effort to get the required results
- Because of our values and beliefs, we have an intrinsic nature that remains constant. However, by recognizing and accepting our actions, we do have the ability to refine and adapt our behaviors. This can be done by aligning any changes to our purpose or Ikigai
- Just like us, we all are similar in that we are not all perfect. Bringing these tips into our relationship with others may give us a better understanding of the actions of others. Allowing us more patience and compassion for others.
As an example, if someone tends to be quick to get angry over trivial things, recognizing and accepting this as a personal challenge is one of the first steps. From here we can look at strategies that allow us to limit or control our anger. Over time this unwanted trait will be minimized and could eventually disappear totally.
Ultimately, while “a leopard never changes its spots” emphasizes the permanence of some traits, personal development involves embracing the journey of becoming the best version of yourself within the framework of your unique nature.
Keep in mind that whatever changes we make are truly aligned with our values and beliefs; otherwise, we will be living our lives like driving with one foot on the accelerator and the other on the brake. Lots of friction.
Our purpose, or Ikigai, is one of the first steps to uncover on our self-development journey. It paints a picture in our mind of where we want to head to. What changes will we have to make in order to be the person we want to be?
The process of finding your Ikigai automatically aligns your purpose with your values and beliefs, removing friction from our lives and creating a unique blend of happiness and purpose.
- Certified Ikigai Coach – Passionate about guiding people to their purpose
- Author of Ikigai: Purpose Filled Life ikigaipurposefilledlife.com
- Founder of Modern Ikigai, inspiring modern living through Ikigai
