Alan Spector: “Don’t Be THAT Elephant” – We Set Our Own Limits

“As I See It . . . ”

“Don’t Be That Elephant”

We Set Our Own Limits

By Alan G. Spector / Link

Here we are preparing for the New Year 2023! Wow, where did 2022 go? As always, this is a time when many reflect on the year passed and consider making changes for the coming year. I recently recalled the following story which brings us a vital lesson. The Elephant Rope A man was walking nearby to a group of elephants that was halted by a small rope tied to their front leg. He was amazed by the fact that the huge elephants are not even making an

attempt to break the rope and set themselves free.

He saw an elephant trainer standing beside them and he expressed his puzzled state of mind. The trainer 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 believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”

Moral: It is the false belief of the elephants that denied them their freedom for their lifetime. Likewise, many people are not trying to work towards success in their life just because they failed once before. So, keep on trying and don’t get tied up with some false beliefs of failure.

When I read this powerful story, I could not help but think of all the ways our past experiences, our false beliefs, and our fears helped to limit our aspirations and our happiness. Ÿ Beliefs about our families Ÿ Beliefs about ourselves and others Ÿ Beliefs about getting older Ÿ Beliefs about being able to try new things Ÿ Beliefs we cannot control our emotions and reactions Ÿ . . . and so many other prejudiced beliefs Just think: does our past really pre-determine our future? Or do WE really direct our future? Who is in control of our challenges, today and tomorrow? When we hear those little voices in our heads telling us not to try, that we have never done that, or that we will never overcome difficulty . . . whose voice is it we hear? We can decide not to listen to those voices and to do, achieve, overcome, grow, survive, prosper. We can, we can. So, who controls us? What controls us? How can we become masters of our own lives. We might suggest that we can take a good look around us and find the things in our lives to be grateful for. There are so many . . . if we will but look and be open to them.

There is so much beauty in the world. We need not let the problems in the world get us down, we can work to change things. We can focus on all the wonderful things around us. Don’t just look out the window, go outside, breathe deeply, open your eyes wide, feel the warmth of the sun, and let the breeze brush your face. Blessings are all around us, and we have so much to be thankful for.

With a “can do” attitude and a heart full of gratitude, selfconfidence, inner strength, and mindfulness, we will find that freedom that enriches our lives and helps us face our challenges and opens us to the best lives we can envision. Then, we break those ropes that have only threatened our freedom but never truly bound us in reality.