Beliefs can be expanding or limiting.
That distinction matters more than most people realize, because your beliefs will either serve you or lock you up.
Consider the elephants.
A man walking past a group of elephants stopped, confused. These massive creatures were being held by nothing more than a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains. No cages. It was obvious they could break free at any moment, but they never tried.
He spotted a trainer nearby and asked why.
"When they are very young, we use the same size rope to tie them. At that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they're conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try."
The man was stunned. The rope wasn't the prison. The belief was.
You and I aren't so different from those elephants. Our self-beliefs are creating our prisons. They feel like protection, like wisdom, like common sense. But a lot of them are just old ropes we stopped questioning a long time ago.
So here's your challenge today. Pick a belief you currently hold strongly. Then ask yourself one honest question: Is that objectively true?
Not true because someone told you. Not true because it's always been true. Objectively true.
You might be surprised how many ropes aren't actually there.
Your self-beliefs are creating your prison.
P.S. Today is the 295th episode of the Optimistic Outlook, which is also a podcast! Leaving a rating or review wherever you listen to podcasts.
Use Your Gifts,
John Eades
Creator, The Leadership Lens & The Optimistic Outlook