Invisible Fences

There is only one cause of unhappiness: the false beliefs you have in your head, beliefs so widespread, so commonly held, that it never occurs to you to question them. Anthony de Mello

To train an elephant, a keeper chains one leg of a baby elephant by a rope to a tree trunk or some large object that it cannot move. No matter how hard or much the baby elephant pulls, it cannot move the object. Eventually, the elephant gives up trying to move the stump and the keeper can move the elephant anywhere it wants simply by attaching the chain to a small piece of wood. The size and strength of the elephant is irrelevant. It believes it cannot move beyond the length of its rope. It is limited by and to its belief.

When I was in an abusive relationship I believed everything I did was limited to what he told me I could do, say, think, feel, be. In my belief that he had the right to control me, I was limited in my ability to move beyond his abuse. In my belief that I was powerless to change what he was doing in my life, I was chained to his abuse.

When I was born, my possibilities were limitless. As I grew, I became defined by the limits of the world around me, my family of origin, my environment, my inherent personality traits. Those limits confined me to believing I could, or could not, do certain things.

These limiting beliefs are like invisible fences. They confine us to the living, doing, being who we 'think' we need to be, limited by our fear of living, doing, being all that we imagine.

Invisible fences are like an electric pet fence. You can't see it, but try to cross the line and you receive a big shock. The initial shock forces you back. Again and again and again. Dogs don't believe they can get through the shock of crossing over, so, they quit trying.

Humans have the capacity to know that the fence shock is not strong enough to kill you, it's meant to deter you from breaking through. -- you can get through. It's just a matter of will.

But, too often, we give up, give in, give into the belief that this line, this invisible fence is our limit. We tell ourselves, "I can't take anymore. It's too much for me. I can't do it. I'm too short, too tall, too thin, too fat, too stupid, too old, too young, too weak."

Do something every day that you're afraid of doing.

Cross a line. Push beyond a limit. Drive through a barrier. Overcome a fear.

Speak up in a meeting when you usually stay silent. Make a phone call you've been avoiding. Write down your goals. Tell yourself "I love me" in the mirror. Wear a red hat. Wear mis-matched socks. And don't explain yourself! Don't excuse yourself for 'being different', for doing it different or for shaking yourself up. Do it. Don't excuse it!

Don't let 'I can't do that', or 'that's just not me' thinking hold you back. Break out! Break through the invisible fences that would keep you confined to the safe and narrow path of your comfort zones.

They're not comfortable! In fact, they're down right uncomfortable, you're just used to them.

Untether yourself from the belief you cannot move beyond the length of the limiting beliefs of your past. Set yourself free to live and do and be all that you imagine.

It's your human right. It's the gift of your brilliance.

Shed some light on the darkness of your fears and get shining!

The question is: Are you like the elephant? Are you willing to use your will to move you beyond the length of the rope keeping you tied to your limiting beliefs?