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This elephant has incredible strength. She can uproot a tree with her trunk alone. Yet she will remain in captivity, held by only a light rope. Despite her ability to easily break away, she doesn't even try. Why? It starts when she is young. She is first tied down when she is small and not yet strong enough to break the rope. She will try at first, try as hard as she can to break free, and try and try, but eventually realize she can’t. Suddenly, something attaches itself to her that is stronger than any rope or chain or fence. It’s the belief that she can't break free. It’s this belief that holds her back — despite her ability. I've had these same beliefs — you may have too — beliefs that held me back, beliefs that led me to feel unfulfilled in my work, to struggle in my relationships and to live a life that was far from the one I am living now. It was only when I became aware of my ropes and actively pulled against them that I found myself in a different reality. How do you break the ropes that tie you down? Don't believe everything you think. When I was six years old, I had a favorite babysitter, Amber. One morning, my mother told me we couldn't have her babysit because she didn't have enough money to pay her. So that afternoon, I started my first company. I gathered rocks from around the neighborhood, painted them with my art set, and went door to door, selling them to our neighbors. That night, it was Amber and I on the couch together.

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This elephant has incredible strength. // She can uproot a tree / with her trunk alone. // Yet she will remain in captivity, / held by only a light rope. // Despite her ability to easily break away, / she doesn’t even try. // Why? // It starts when she is young. // She is first tied down when she is small / and not yet strong enough to break the rope. // She will try at first, / try as hard as she can to break free, / and try and try, / but eventually realize / she can’t. // Suddenly, / something attaches itself to her / that is stronger than any rope / or chain / or fence. // It’s the belief / that she can’t break free. // It’s this belief / that holds her back / — despite her ability. // I’ve had these same beliefs / -you may have too — / beliefs that held me back, / beliefs that led me to feel / unfulfilled in my work, / to struggle in my relationships / and to live a life that was far / from the one / I am living now. // It was only when I became aware of my ropes / and actively pulled against them / that I found myself in a different reality. // How do you break the ropes that tie you down? // Don’t believe / everything you think. // When I was six years old, / I had a favorite baby sitter, / Amber. // One morning, / my mother told me we couldn’t have her babysit / because she didn’t have enough money to pay her. // So that afternoon, / I started my first company. // I gathered rocks from around the neighborhood, / painted them with my art set, / and went door to door, / selling them to our neighbors. // That night, / it was Amber and I on the couch together.

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When I was young, I was bold, outgoing and fearless. I wore what I wanted or didn't want to wear, guided by my own voice that told me what would make me happy. I was also in love. His name was Fernando, and he was wonderful. As with everything else, I wasn't afraid to grab him with both hands. As I grew older, this picture started to fade. My exuberance was replaced with timidness, my leadership with conformity, my boldness with fear. I don't think any of us leave childhood without some ropes despite our parents’ best intentions. I grew up with a mother who was determined to give me the perfect life. Armed with love and good intentions, she did everything for me to help me be perfect. I’d pack a suitcase to go on a school trip, and she’d unpack it and repack it in a more perfect way. I’d be ready to turn in a school art project, and then she’d add her own brush strokes to make it better. Later she told me when my choice of boyfriend or apartment wasn't good enough. Although she just wanted what was best for me, I stopped knowing what was best for me. An unconscious rope was formed. I shouldn't trust my own voice and my own ability, and I feared not being perfect. Other ropes attached themselves too. I grew up in a family filled with yelling, loud voices and strong opinions. To keep the peace, I learned to stay quiet, to not rock the boat, to become invisible. In school, I came to believe it’s more important to blend in than stand out. And the pain of an early heartbreak led me to hold back in my relationships so I could avoid getting hurt. I'm not good enough. Don’t speak up. Don't stand out. Fear failure. These were my ropes. This isn't just my story. Like the elephant, we all come to believe certain things in childhood that weren't true — or at least are no longer true. But we still live with them as if they are.

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When I was young, / I was bold, outgoing and fearless. // I wore what I wanted / or didn’t want to wear, / guided by my own voice / that told me what would make me happy. // I was also in love. // His name was Fernando, / and he was wonderful. // As with everything else, / I wasn’t afraid to grab him / with both hands. // As I grew older, / this picture started to fade. // My exuberance / was replaced with timidness, / my leadership with conformity, / my boldness with fear. // I don’t think any of us leave childhood / without some ropes / despite our parents’ best intentions. // I grew up with a mother who was determined / to give me the perfect life. // Armed with love / and good intentions, / she did everything for me / to help me be perfect. // I’d pack a suitcase to go on a school trip, / and she’d unpack it / and repack it in a more perfect way. // I’d be ready to turn in a school art project, / and then she’d add her own brush strokes to make it better. // Later she told me when my choice of boyfriend / or apartment / wasn’t good enough. // Although she just wanted / what was best for me, / I stopped knowing what was best for me. // An unconscious rope / was formed. // I shouldn’t trust my own voice / and my own ability, / and I feared / not being perfect. // Other ropes attached themselves too. // I grew up in a family filled / with yelling, / loud voices / and strong opinions. // To keep the peace, / I learned to stay quiet, / to not rock the boat, / to become invisible. // In school, / I came to believe it’s more important to blend in / than stand out. // And the pain of an early heartbreak / led me to hold back in my relationships / so I could avoid getting hurt. // I’m not good enough. // Don’t speak up. // Don’t stand out. // Fear failure. // These were my ropes. // This isn’t just my story. // Like the elephant, / we all come to believe certain things in childhood / that weren’t true / — or at least are no longer true. // But we still live with them as if they are. //