What's holding YOU back?
You’ve probably heard this elephant tale before. I thought about it recently, though, when I had a sudden epiphany.
As part of their training, circuses routinely chain baby elephants to a stake in the ground. The baby pulls and struggles to break free and eventually learns it’s impossible. So even as she grows into a powerful adult, she’s resigned to the fact that when she’s hobbled to the stake, she is immobile.
Yesterday I realized that I’ve harbored — no, nurtured! — a belief about myself that has held me back and made me avoid many personal and professional risks. I took a hard look at that outdated belief. It suddenly looked as ridiculous as a two-inch stake keeping a grown elephant in one place.
Think about it: What’s YOUR stake in the ground?
Shelley, this is so very true. I struggle still to believe that people really want to hear what I have to say or what I think. I feel like I’m “forcing” my thoughts on them… even when they’ve asked me to comment!
Thanks for sharing!
Telling people what I think has never been a problem for me, Mandy! However, sometimes I find myself prefacing with, “I know you’re not asking for input right now, but have you thought about…?”
I’m not sure why I do that. Do men talk that way?
Go Shelley! Glad you’re not letting your outdated belief hold you back! Thanks for posting this – now you’ve got me thinking about what’s holding me back (personally & professionally)…wish me luck that I’m as successful at not letting them hold me back, too.
I totally agree. Our “stakes” tend to be from childhood programs or gender bs. Great post!
Thanks for the comments, Sharon and Kathy!
I’ll bet once I get rid of my “stake,” I’ll soon discover another and then another. Who knows? Maybe those FLYING dreams I keep having will come true once I’ve pulled all of those silly things out of the ground.
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