FSS Newsletter :: September 2002

Fear: Is it just an illusion?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? Think about this for a moment...

Elephants, when they are very young, are often trained by tying a rope to their foot and then attaching this rope to a stake which is pounded securely into the ground. These young elephants try on countless occasions to dislodge the stake and free themselves. However, unsuccessful in their endeavors, they give up and succumb to being stuck within the limits and confines of the rope and stake.

Later, as these elephants grow big and strong they become physically capable of freeing themselves with one small yank on the rope. Yet they don't. Rather they choose to remain in
the confines of a small circular pen.

How is this so? The elephants have become prisoners of a memory, of an illusion that it's not possible to free themselves. So they don't even try. They just succumb to the existence of
confined captivity based on the illusion that they are not capable of freeing themselves.

I invite you to take a moment and reflect on this simple yet interesting phenomenon of nature...

What in your life keeps you tied to the stake? What are you capable of doing yet don't because you are operating under fear... under the illusion that you can't?

What old memory still plays strong in your head that keeps you tied to a false sense
of security?

Interesting questions to ask ourselves...