As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before?
Failure is part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
Maybe the elephants were smart enough to know if they’d escaped they’d have been shot!
Nice story, sometimes stories may change persons life, thanks post more.
Nice really nice
It was pretty good.
It is called conditioned reflex or sham reflex which is natural in all living. Actually it is good to save life, but human are thinking creature they should give up this mental block
really superb…………….
So nice…..!!!
Each day live differently
Awesome approach towards the human philosophy…..!!!
How foolish?
Very good.
Yes that is true, we forgot that we are now bought up and we can do everything which is in the world …. thanks for the simple but sweet story..
I will try to do what I once wanted to do but failed at that time. Thanks 4 your awesome way to make, people like me, understand this true fact.
People loose confidence due to their failures and never notice their raise in maturity levels, thereby forced to live like elephants life, like in this story.
Awesome approach towards the human philosophy…..!!!
Really superb…………….
Really nice…………………………..
Nice story. Post more…
Thankssss!!! It will help me for my story telling competition.
The example and the quote below is simply good.
Thanks for sharing such a good inspirational story. I really like it…
This story was very interesting and it helped me to make my oral presentation. Thank you to the person who posted this story.
Thanks alot this helped me alot to do my prayer at religion class….. and it really teaches me a lesson
In this new era we shouldn’t belief superstitions…..but very much enthusiastic
True story! Never stop your feet to go forward. Never assume your are hopeless.
Instil a-can-do-attitude always!! be indomitable!
This storys helped me alot.. it’s actually unreal. Thank-you so much, my life is getting better by the minute just by following that one peice of advice
Thank-you! I hope it helped others as well.
I loved this story!! Do you mind if I use the story or idea of it? I am a art student…
Please feel free to!
This wonderful story will help people to know what is the meaning of life.
Very nice story…!!! Hearty inspirational…!!!!
I like this story. My rural youth should be thought so…
Lovely stories
Lesson for us.
Ya. We are bound by such many perceptions…. And we grow negative…. A good one !
Really so awesome… how superb
Thanks for posting this story…just what I wanted for my storytelling competition!!
Good one
I loved this story… after my high school I lost my way during my stream selection……your website was one of the ways to bring me back. Thanks a lot
What a beautiful story, I love this site…
You are doing a great job keep it up..:)
Who was the actual author of this story? I loved the message it was truly inspirational.
It is cool. Really good.
Good job.
An inspiring story and good as well.