Ever been to a circus and noticed how an elephant can be safely secured with nothing more than a thin rope and a short wooden stake?
Without a doubt the 5-ton elephant could easily pull the stake from the ground and go charging towards its freedom, but it does not. How can this be?
The answer is self-limiting beliefs.
Consider this... When a captive elephant is a baby it is chained to a heavy metal stake that is driven deep into the ground. The intent is to limit movement and to condition the baby elephant for adulthood.
Adult elephants, which are obviously much, much larger than baby elephants do not require a heavy metal stake and chain. Instead, adult elephants are often held by a simple wooden stake and rope.
One has to wonder - "How does a wooden stake hold a full grown adult elephant?"
The answer is simple.... The wooden stake is not the only thing holding the adult elephant.
What else is holding the adult elephant back?
Its mind.
As a baby the elephant likely tried repeated times to free itself from its fetters, but was unsuccessful. After hundreds of attempts and considerable pain the elephant comes to realize that it cannot get free and stops trying. As an adult the elephant remembers the pain from its childhood and refrains from pulling on the rope when it feels the slightest resistance from the stake.
Human beings are similar in that we are limited by reality as we perceive it to be.
What self-limiting mental beliefs are holding you back?
What "wooden stakes" do you need to free yourself from?
- The economic news of today?
- Your childhood?
- A negative influence in your life?
- Your fear of failure?
Whatever the "wooden stake" in your life is, identify it today and adopt a positive mental attitude to pull it from the ground and realize your full potential.
Self-limiting beliefs can easily be mistaken for reality when in fact the next breakthrough in your life could be just a short wooden stake away!
Now go maximize possibility!
Other posts you may be interested in:
- The Difference is Attitude, Not Ability
- Limiting Beliefs - Roger Bannister Breaks the Four Minute Mile
- Climb, Camp, or Quit - You Decide
- The Difference Between Ordinary and Extraordinary - It's That Little Extra
- Lou Holtz Defines the Power of a Positive Attitude
Chris Young helps organizations Maximize Possibility through talent management, cultural transformation, and strategic intervention. Bring Chris in today!
