Breaking Free from Old Beliefs That No Longer Serve Me

What if the only thing holding you back is a belief you outgrew years ago?

While walking through an elephant camp, a woman noticed something strange: the elephants were being held in place by only a small rope tied around their ankle.

These massive creatures could easily break free, yet they didn’t.

Curious, she asked one of the keepers why the elephants didn’t try to escape.

The answer? "Well, when the elephants were very young, we used the same small rope, but at that age, it was strong enough to hold them. Now, even though they are much bigger, they still believe the rope can hold them, so they never try to break it."

Much like these elephants, many of us are held back by old, patterned beliefs that no longer serve us.

These mental “ropes” keep us trapped in the same routines, doubts, and fears.

In this issue, we’ll explore how recognizing these limiting beliefs can set you free—whether you're leading an organization or steering your own career.

Emotion Highlight: Self Doubt

Self-doubt is often the “rope” that keeps us tethered to our past limitations, just as the elephants were tied to beliefs they had outgrown.

It whispers that:

• 🚫 We're not capable of more,
• ⚠️ Breaking free from our current situation will lead to failure,
• ❌ We don’t deserve success in the first place.

The key message here? Self-doubt serves to remind us that we're stepping outside of our comfort zone: which is exactly where growth happens.

Instead of letting self-doubt hold us back, we can use it as a signal to:

🔍 Pause,

💪 Reassess our strengths,

➡️ Move forward with intention.

Recognizing self-doubt gives us the power to transform it into confidence.

Leadership Insight

Leaders often face the challenge of helping their teams break free from outdated processes, mindsets, or practices that once served a purpose but now stifle innovation.

Like the elephant’s rope, these “safe” practices may have worked in the past but no longer allow for growth.

Actionable Tip: This week, schedule a “breaking the ropes” session with your team.

Start by identifying one key area (whether it’s a process, mindset, or routine) that feels outdated or inefficient.

Use these steps to guide the discussion:

1. 🧐 Evaluate: Ask team members to pinpoint practices that feel more like barriers than enablers. What’s slowing down innovation or progress?
2. 💬 Challenge: Encourage open dialogue by asking, “If we were starting from scratch today, would we still do it this way?” This question helps break away from “we’ve always done it like this” thinking.
3. 🚀 Test: Select one small change to experiment with for the next month. Whether it’s streamlining a process or rethinking communication flows, commit to a trial period to see if breaking the old habit leads to improvement.

By actively challenging outdated practices, you’ll foster a culture where innovation and fresh ideas can thrive.

Career Empowerment: Rewriting Your Story

For career professionals, the “small rope” often comes in the form of limiting beliefs: "I'm not ready for that promotion," or "I could never switch careers at this point." These beliefs are ingrained from past experiences but no longer reflect your current potential.

Breaking through limiting beliefs can completely change the trajectory of your career.

Take the example of a client who once believed they weren’t “leadership material” simply because they had never held a formal leadership title.

This limiting belief kept them from pursuing leadership opportunities for years.

And then something changed. During our work together, we uncovered leadership skills they had been using all along—skills they hadn’t valued because they didn’t come with a title.

Once they recognized their true potential, they confidently applied for, and landed (YAY!!!), a leadership position where they thrived in guiding others to their own success.

Letting go of that old belief didn’t just earn them the role; it unlocked an entirely new career path filled with possibilities.

Tip for You:

🧠 Reflect: What belief is holding you back? Is it based on your current reality, or is it just a remnant of the past?

🎯 Challenge: Take one small action this week that defies that belief. Even a small step forward can start to loosen the “rope” keeping you from your full potential. Whether it’s volunteering to lead a meeting, updating your resume for a new role, or signing up for a leadership course, each action moves you closer to breaking free from limiting beliefs.

Shared Wisdom

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

Both leaders and individuals can be trapped by old beliefs.

The good news is that growth and change are always possible.

It starts by questioning the ropes that have been holding you back and daring to believe that you are capable of more.

Take Action Now

🔗 This week’s challenge: Break Free from Your “Ropes”

Take a moment to identify one “rope” that’s been holding you or your team in place. What outdated belief, process, or assumption is keeping you stuck?

🎯 Take action:

Choose one small but powerful step to break free from it.

Whether it’s:

🚀 Taking on a project that pushes you out of your comfort zone

📝 Reworking an outdated team process

🎓 Investing in personal development like a new skill or course

Each action pulls you closer to your full potential. Break that rope and see where it leads!

Let’s Spark a Conversation 🔥

What "small rope" have you broken free from recently, or what belief still holds you back?

Share your thoughts, and let’s continue the conversation together. Your insights might just inspire someone else to take action!