We were staying in Paris

I thought wow.

Paris from Laura Anderson on Vimeo.

Elephant Ropes

One year when I was young the circus came to town. The workers set up the big top tent, and brought foreign animals to a large grass field in the middle of town. When my parents bought our family tickets to attend I was ecstatic. It was my first trip to a circus and it was magnificent. The colors. The people. The animals. Walking toward the entrance of the big top tent we passed vendors selling cotton candy, popcorn, and elephant rides. 

One thing I never thought about until I got older was how the circus was able transport such enormous creatures to small town America? Moreover, once they got the elephants there, how did they get such powerful creatures to stay in this field in the middle of town? 

Recently, I learned that when the elephants are young the circus workers tie the elephants up with a simple chain or rope around one of their legs. The simple rope can easily hold the young elephant. No matter how hard they try they cannot escape. Years go by and the elephant grows. At its full height and weight the elephant can now tear through the rope with ease. So how do they get these giant animals to stay put at the circus?

With one rope tied to it's leg, the elephant, remembering its past hurt and failure, does not even attempt to break free. The grown elephants do not realize the extent of their abilities because after failing as a child they do not even try to escape. Their failure is associated with their earliest most basic attempts at escape, the grown elephant remains chained by it's own mind.

I have always loved to be creative, but in school my teacher was very critical of me and I began to grow insecure of my work. When I went to college my intro class professor did not teach me the technical skills required for our projects (because that was the T.A.'s job… thanks private college). It seemed like everyone else already knew what they were doing and I was "faking it till I made it." And my insecurity grew.

It was at a creative team night at my church recently (that I crashed..thanks guys) where I heard the story of elephant ropes. I began to realize that I have allowed my own elephant ropes to hold me back in my pursuit of growing as a creative. 

Now that I have discovered the rope around my own leg, I have some thoughts on the subject.  

• Recognize what is holding you back. I think a lot of people live their lives with elephant ropes tied to their legs on some level. The key is realizing the rope is there. Once the rope is acknowledged it loses its power to hold us back. 
• You do you. My issue stemmed from a fear of vulnerability. I am the only me. You are the only you. The key here is that we (read I) need to quit comparing and measuring. We were created intentionally to be unique. 
• Finally, people respond to authenticity. The authentic self is the soul made visible. I do not know about you but I love authentic people. The Instagram Story that posts imperfect shots. The blogger who isn't afraid to show the unpolished self. The musicians that sings songs that grip the corners of your heart. People relate to the vulnerability of the authentic self.  

I don't want to live less than my God given potential because I allowed something that had no power steer my life.