Thursday, August 26, 2010

What is holding you back?

I read this story and loved the moral of the story, hope you do too!

A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstage in Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus.  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 near by 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  How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us?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?  Do you tell yourself you can't sell because you're not a salesperson?

http://soulnpeace.com/why-elephants-dont-run.html


"Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood."  ~ Marie Curie

"Success can make you go one of two ways. It can make you a prima donna - or it can smooth the edges, take away the insecurities, let the nice things come out."   ~ Barbara Walters

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