Elephants don’t run, are you tied to the small rope?
A number of
years ago before I moved to Alaska, I had the rather unique experience of being
backstage at The Omni, in Atlanta, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum &
Bailey Circus. I worked as a paramedic
on the medical staff there and saw many great bands, the Atlanta Flames hockey
team, and other things that played there.
To say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was able to walk around looking at the
lions, tigers, giraffes and all the other circus animals. As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly
stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only
a small rope tied to their front leg. No
chains, no cages. It was obvious that
the elephants could, at any time, break away from their bonds but for some
reason, they did not. I saw a trainer
nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and
made no attempt to get away.
"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."
I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief? Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and imaginary.
"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free."
I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief? Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Remember that your subconscious mind does not know the difference between real and imaginary.
It has been said throughout history that whatever you believe, with conviction, you can achieve. Don't be like the poor elephant and go through your life stuck because of a limiting belief you were given or developed years ago. Take charge of your life and live it to the fullest. You deserve the best!
Ringling has retired all their elephants since then freeing them to move forward.
Have a great
weekend!
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