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- Tied to the Past | #61
Tied to the Past | #61
Outgrowing the "Rope"
Armaan Athwal
December 18, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
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By Armaan Athwal
Tied to the Past
View the archive: https://road2growth.beehiiv.com/archive
Approximate read time: 4 Minutes
Today's Overview:
The Elephant Rope parable
How small beliefs can quietly tether your potential
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The Beliefs That Keep Us Bound
As my friend was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. My friend saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.
“Well,” he said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size of 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.” My friend was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
The Elephant Rope parable is a great reminder for how often we let outdated beliefs quietly define your actions? Beliefs like:
“I’m not a leader; I just follow orders.”
“I’ve never been good at [fill in the blank], so why bother trying?”
“I don’t have the time to work on myself right now.”
These thoughts, often subtle and automatic, act like that fragile string. They feel small, almost invisible, yet they tether you more than you realize.
But what if you paused to question them?
Ask yourself:
Where did this belief come from? Was it taught to me, or did I assume it from experience?
Does this belief reflect who I am today—or who I was years ago?
What could happen if I let go of it?
The truth is, many of the limitations you face aren’t barriers, they’re stories you’ve carried for too long. And like the rope, they may have been useful once, but they don’t have to stay.
This week, take a moment to reflect. Identify one belief or story that feels outdated, and imagine what your life might look like without it.
You might find that cutting the rope doesn’t just free the elephant—it frees you, too.
Quote of the Day
“Do the uncomfortable. Become comfortable with these acts. Prove to yourself that your limiting beliefs die a quick death if you will simply do what you feel uncomfortable doing.” - Darren Rowse
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