Elephants carry tremendous loads: trees, stones, sand and even tractors. Training enormous adult elephants to do these types of jobs is nearly impossible, so farmers had to be creative. Do you know how people train elephants?
The trick they discovered about elephants is to train them from infancy to carrying heavy loads. First, they tie a thick rope around the a baby elephant’s leg and stake it in the ground to tether the animal. While the elephant struggles and pulls to free itself, the rope and stake are strong enough to keep the small animal bound. Finally, the baby elephant will succumb and submit to its captivity.
As the elephant grows in size and strength, you might assume that the farmer would need a larger stake and rope to hold the animal, but this is not true. Once the elephant gives up thinking it can escape, the size of the rope and stake no longer matter. In fact, they can even get smaller because as soon as the elephant feels the slightest tug of restraint, it surrenders.
Consequently, when the elephant becomes an adult, the farmers just need to pull out a few river reeds, weave the reeds into small ropes, and use them to tie the two-ton elephant to whatever he wants. Imagine using a simple river-reed rope to restrain an elephant!
Human beings are also like that. Just as the elephant has been conditioned to believe its limitations, humans have also been conditioned. Without even recognizing it, mankind engages in “river reed thinking.”
Inevitably, due to experiences, upbringing and advertising, people start to subscribe to notions of limitation. Thoughts of, “I’m not pretty enough, young enough, smart enough, good enough or wealthy enough to have the life I want, or the job, or the partner I desire,” are pervasive. However, none of these thoughts is true.
The real truth is no one is actually contained by anything. As a species, mankind is not limited by anything other than personal thoughts and beliefs. Your life is not pre-determined by history, childhood, family, or economics.
There is no “thing” in the world greater than the Presence and Power within every person, yet people often allow their thinking to limit themselves and their dreams. In truth, if you ever let your past history restrict you, or let self-doubt and low self-esteem control you, then you are actually giving power to others around you,
Sadly, we humans unwittingly allow family and close friends to influence us, and all too often we abdicate our power, and as a result, our dreams.
It need not be this way. What is within you is greater than anything outside you, including any circumstances that may arise. The Power of Life itself is greater than your personal history.
History does not determine destiny. What is possible for you is determined by what you believe. In order to rise above limitations to ultimate freedom, you must move beyond limited thinking.
Four simple steps to break free from “river reed thinking”
1. Identify your beliefs. Imagine the life you really want.
•Where would you like to live?
•What work would you love to bring to the world?
•What do you do with your time? Envision who you are now living that life.
Now consider your present beliefs that are incongruent with your Higher Self’s beliefs. Those “river reed thoughts” won’t serve you in moving towards your dream. Write those beliefs down on a piece of paper.
2. Replace Your Old Limiting Beliefs with Empowered Beliefs. To rise above limitations, look at things differently. Write down replacement beliefs that challenge these old ideas. Which of your Highest Self’s thoughts and beliefs could serve you in achieving your dreams? Jot these best beliefs and thoughts down on a different piece of paper.
3. Focus on what you want to accomplish, then release the rest. Now burn the piece of paper containing the “river reed thinking.” As it burns, visualize these ideas no longer controlling you, no longer having power over you and no longer governing your results. Imagine that these ideas are literally burning away from your mind, heart and soul.
4. Tape your best beliefs list next to your bed. Read them daily both upon waking and before bedtime. Remind yourself of these beliefs twice daily so they have a chance to take hold in your mind and start expressing themselves in your life.
