Why Can't I Break Free
A mighty elephant possessing the strength to large trees cannot
gather the strength to free itself from a flimsy chain tied to a peg. It’s not the
physical chain that ties the elephant but the invisible restraints that tells
its brain that there is no point in trying to break free.
It is the perception of this elephant’s personal reality that
makes it feel weak and feeble with respect to the binding chain because it was created
through earlier failed attempts.
Unfortunately this is not limited to elephants.
We too find ourselves restrained with our beliefs embedded
through earlier experiences or teachings and we created our own reality around
those. We are so strongly programmed that we cannot even distinguish between
possible and the impossible.
Human brain weighs only 3% of our body weight but it
consumes 20% of our energy. This tells us something about its capability if we
decide to put it to use, we can move mountains.
Many people continue to live with stressful relationship, a bullying
mate, an unwelcome workplace, a difficult boss and the list can go on and on
because our belief tells us that this is the only reality. But we do not have
to do that and all we need is to free ourselves of those invisible chains.
Bob Marley said, “Open your eyes, look within. Are you
satisfied with the life you're living?”
We can all ask the same question today and refer to the beautiful
words from Steve Jobs to find our honest answer.
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone
else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of
other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your
own inner voice.”
I hope this will take us one step closer free ourselves.
This is a very impactful post Suman. It is amazing how big a difference the peg / mental constraint makes to an elephant. Right from its early days, it is limited by a small wooden peg, as it grows sometimes the peg's strength doesn't change at all, but the elephant's spirit is broken. Extending the same metaphor, it is stunning how many cultural restraints we have about our capabilities, strengths, possibilities extending to relationships, the work we do, people we talk to and the way we approach everything we do. A beautiful line of thought indeed.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteBut I would also agree that its one thing saying this and quite another to workout the details and set ourselves free.
Let this post be a reawakening call for some including me!
Indeed Suman, I think it is rather hard to move away from Cultural training. But on the same time, to know that we can actually make the difference we want is quite a powerful thought and consciousness to have. It is incredible just to wonder about the number of things we can do :)
DeleteWe are so strongly programmed that we cannot even distinguish between possible and the impossible..
ReplyDeleteThese words are so profound. Neuroscience is a wonderful area of study and it is amazing to know what the brain parts do..
For instance there is this part called Amygdala that is just 1 inch in size but controls all our emotions and has chemical secretions that can cloud intellectual thinking!
I am aware that the brain can do wonders and also be totally out of balance through unhealthy thinking. But do not know the technicalities.
DeleteThanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts