An adult male Indian elephant weighs between 2500 and 5000 kg. That’s the equivalent of a Land Rover Discovery on the lighter end or a Cadillac Escalade on the heavier.
Have you ever wondered how such a powerful creature can be restrained and held captive by a small piece of rope? It’s simple.
When they are young, elephants are often subjected to restraint by strong chains and stakes. At that age, they are not strong enough to break free. As the young elephants keep struggling against these restraints, they repeatedly experience pain and frustration. Eventually, they learn that resisting is futile, and so they give up trying to escape.
As they grow into adulthood, they retain the memory of their past helplessness. They have internalized the belief that they are incapable of escaping. Even though they are now strong enough to easily break free from a small rope or stake, they don’t attempt to do so.
What’s that got to do with you?
You are the elephant. In certain situations, around certain people, you are restrained by invisible “ropes” of fear, doubt, and negative self-perception. Beliefs which incline you to comply, protect or control instead of leading with courage, clarity, and confidence. Like the elephant, you are big and powerful. And like the elephant, you are held back only by thin ropes, not by heavy chains.
But unlike the elephant you have self-awareness. And so you can make a conscious choice between staying where you are and breaking your ropes.
At Choose Leadership we support you to release the ropes that hold you back and to whole heartedly step into your leadership.
Contact me today if you are ready to start.
