< Go Back The elephant and the rope... Posted: Jun 19, 2017I'd
like to share with you one of my favourite stories. Like all good stories it's probably apocryphal
but that doesn't matter when the message is simple and clear. On this hot and humid day when your body is
probably very reluctant to move just allow your mind to gently ponder the
following...
One hot day as a man was passing some elephants he noticed that
these huge creatures were being restrained by nothing more than a small rope
tied to their front leg. He was surprised as it was obvious that the elephants
could break free from their bonds at any time but for some reason they didn't.
He asked a trainer nearby why these powerful animals just stood
there and made no attempt to get away. The trainer replied that when the elephants
were very young, and much smaller, they were tied with same size rope which was
strong enough to hold hem at that age. As they grew up they were conditioned to
believe that they couldn't break away and because they still believe the rope
can hold them they never try to break free.
The man was astonished. The
elephants could break free at any time but because they believed they couldn't
they didn't even try and stayed right where they were.
Like
the elephants, how many of us go through life being held back by a belief that
we cannot do something simply because we tried and failed to do it once before?
