Hello friend.
Find a comfortable position,
Allowing your body to fully rest.
Close your eyes or soften your gaze.
Take a deep breath in through your nose,
Filling your chest and belly,
And exhale softly through your mouth,
Releasing tension with a sigh.
Let the rhythm of your breath guide you into this moment.
Inhale a sense of calm,
Exhale any heaviness,
Let your body soften and settle into stillness.
And let me tell you a story.
Imagine an elephant,
Standing tall.
Its strength is undeniable,
Yet it's tethered by a thin rope tied to a small stake in the ground.
Despite its power,
The elephant doesn't try to pull away.
Why?
Because,
As a young calf,
It tried and failed.
Over time,
It stopped believing it could.
This rope,
Though fragile,
Has become the elephant's invisible prison,
A belief so deeply ingrained,
That it no longer questions it.
Now ask yourself,
Is there a rope in your life,
A belief or voice within that says you can't,
Or you're not enough.
This is just the way things are.
Breathe in deeply,
Let this question settle like a pebble sinking into still water.
Exhale,
Releasing judgment or resistance.
Turn inward now,
Gently and curiously.
Begin to listen to the voice inside your mind.
What words arise when you face a challenge?
What tone do they take when you make a mistake?
Is the voice harsh or kind?
Encouraging or critical?
Notice,
Without trying to change anything,
Simply observe.
Visualize this inner dialogue as a rope,
Tied gently around your own ankle.
It might feel familiar,
Perhaps even comforting,
But does it still serve you?
Does it hold you back from stepping forward?
With every breath,
Imagine yourself examining the rope closely.
Notice its texture,
Its weight.
Does it truly have the power you once believed it did?
Now let's reflect on the act of trying.
Confidence doesn't come from guaranteed success,
It is built through the willingness to take a step,
Even when the outcome is uncertain.
What happens if you try?
You learn.
You grow.
You show yourself that the voice of doubt isn't the only voice inside of you.
Picture yourself as the elephant again,
Full of strength in your body,
The power in your heart.
What would it mean to take one step forward,
Even if it's small?
To test the rope,
To challenge the belief that has held you back.
As you inhale,
Gather the courage to try.
As you exhale,
Release the fear of failure.
Now in your mind's eye,
See yourself pulling gently against the rope.
Feel its tension,
But notice how it begins to loosen.
Hear the fibers fraying,
Snapping.
And with one more step,
This rope falls away.
You are no longer tethered.
Take a step forward into open space.
The ground beneath you feels firm and steady.
The air around you feels light and expansive.
Notice the shift within you.
Your willingness to try has become a quiet,
Unshakable strength.
Repeat silently or aloud to yourself now,
I am strong enough to try.
I am free to take the next step.
And then take a moment to look back and see the rope lying on the ground.
It was never as strong as you believed.
It was the act of trying.
That revealed your freedom.
So what new possibilities open when you let go of the fear of trying?
What words of encouragement can you offer yourself moving forward?
Breathe deeply.
Let these questions guide you.
And as we begin to bring our practice to a close,
Let these words by Edgar Guest remind you of your strength.
Somebody said that it couldn't be done.
But he with a chuckle replied that maybe it couldn't,
But he would be one who wouldn't say so until he tried.
So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin on his face.
If he worried,
He hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled a thing that couldn't be done,
But he did it.
As you return to the present,
Reflect on the truth.
The rope is never stronger than your willingness to try.
Gently open your eyes,
Wiggle your fingers and toes,
And carry this awareness into your day.
You are untethered,
And you are free.
May your mind,
Your body,
And your spirit be abundant with peace today and every day until we meet again.
Namaste.
