Don't Be An Elephant

Don’t be an Elephant! No, this isn’t about eating. (Even though several of us could probably make a few less trips through the buffet line and a few more trips to the gym.) This is about your self esteem and your belief about yourself and accomplishing great things. So, what does it mean to not be an elephant? Let’s begin by looking at how an elephant is trained to be obedient to his animal trainer.

A baby elephant averages about 250 pounds, while a fully grown adult reaches the height of 10-13 feet and weighs about 15,400 pounds. How do you get an animal this large to be restricted and contained by a 2 inch rope tied to a stake in the ground that can be easily pulled out? It is done by breaking its spirit when it is a young baby elephant.

Initially, the young wild elephant is tied to a wooden frame or between two tree trunks where it is unable to move. The wild elephant tears at the ropes and flails with its trunk to desperately try to free himself. The elephant is then repeatedly stuck with an elephant hook and beaten. Fear, pain, thirst and hunger finally make the elephant give up all resistance. When the elephant begins to accept its fate, it is allowed to take a bath in a river and to eat, although it continues to be tied to a working elephant throughout this process . After several weeks of this brutal treatment, the young elephant is now tame enough to be led without being accompanied by other working elephants. When the young elephant’s spirit is completely broken it can be tied with a simple rope that is staked in the ground. This is because it has given up all hope and has convinced itself that freedom is impossible.

So don’t be an elephant!! Are we literally tied to a tree, beaten, and stuck with an elephant hook? Of course the answer is no. However, so many people allow themselves to become “elephants”. We give other people the power to break our spirit. Could it be a parent as we grew up? Did you have a parent tell you that you wouldn’t amount to anything? Have you ever heard anyone tell a child, “You are going to turn out just like your father and amount to nothing?” Over time comments like these start to break down one’s spirit. We start believing what we are told. Supposed friends can be very cruel as we grow up too. They say things such as, “Your parents didn’t go to college so you won’t be able to go either.” “Your parents are divorced so you don’t have a chance.” “Your mother is an alcoholic. You are going to turn out just like her.” Before you know it you have become an elephant.

Now, let’s say you are different than what I’ve described so far. Your parents didn’t say nasty things like this to you. You did go to college. So, you might be thinking that this doesn’t apply to you. My question to you is “Really?”.  Answer these questions for me. When is the last time you asked for a raise? When is the last time you were employee of the month? When is the last time you had the courage to go after a promotion? Don’t be an elephant. Have your peers and mainstream society broken your spirit? Are you thinking that the person next you is better than you and they deserve the promotion. Is your co-worker that much better than you that you think they deserved the raise? If these thoughts are in your head then you have become an elephant. You have let your spirit be broken. Don’t be an elephant. You are valuable and do deserve that promotion, raise, and to be employee of the month.

You have given up hope and have let someone else stick you with an elephant hook until you become confined by your own ropes. Don’t become an elephant!! You are powerful and can break away just as a 15,400 pound elephant can if it truly tried. Believe in yourself. Find those people that have become successful in spite of their circumstances. I am here to tell you that if I can overcome an abusive, serial killing parent then you can accomplish great things! One of my tips of success was shared in an earlier blog, “Keep an Eye on Two People”. If you need a refresher or haven’t read it you can click this link. http://run2something-jpe.blogspot.com/2011/03/keep-eye-on-two-people.html   

Dreams, goals, and aspirations do not have to die with our youth or with negative comments that are made to us. Do not leave your dreams, goals, and aspirations tied to a tree somewhere or confined to a two inch rope attached to a stake in the ground. Don’t be an elephant!!