Have you ever seen elephant in the circus? During the show, the huge animal makes huge displays of strength. But before entering the scene, he remains trapped quietly, contained only by a chain that binds one of his paws to a small stake embedded in the ground. The stake is just a small piece of wood. And though the current was thick, it seems obvious that he, capable of felling a tree with his own strength, could easily pull it from the ground and flee.
What a mystery! Why doesn't the elephant run away?
A few years ago I discovered that, luckily for me, someone had been wise enough to find the answer: the circus elephant does not escape because it has been attached to the very small stake. I closed my eyes and imagined the little baby trapped: at that moment, the little elephant pulled, forced, trying to break free. And despite all the effort, could not leave. The stake was too heavy for him. And the little elephant tried, tried and nothing. Until one day, tired, he accepted his destiny: to be tied to the stake, rocking his body from time to time, waiting for the time to enter the show.
So that huge elephant doesn't let go because he believes he can't.
In order for it to break the shackles, something unusual must happen, such as a fire. Fear of fire would cause the desperate elephant to break the chain and flee.
Moral of the story: We will only evolve if we can break paradigms.
