Tell a story

A recent prompt from the Ultimate Blog Challenge is to share a story, it made me think of one I hear a lot in groups where self-development is a significant piece like business masterminds and even Toastmasters.

It's the story of the elephant and the rope. In the story a man walks by a circus and sees a large elephant tied to a small post so he asks the trainer why this big powerful elephant doesn't just break the rope. The trainer explains that he started tying the elephants to the ropes as babies, back then, the rope was strong enough to hold them in place so eventually, they stop trying to break free, even once they have grown so large that they could easily break the rope they don't bother.

If you look this story up online there is so much about learned helplessness...etc. and any time I hear someone tell this story they are so excited to show you how you are strong and capable, If you would just realize that you could break that rope too!

Do you know what I have heard every single time this story comes up? I hear a broken spirit, I hear cruelty, I hear the result of captivity. The perspective of this story is switched for me, it is not empowering at all. Have you ever heard this story? What did you take from it (if anything)?

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