文字难度：★★☆
A number of years ago, I had the rather unique experience of being backstage in Madison Square Garden, in New York, during the 1)Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus. To say the least, it was a fascinating experience. I was able to walk around looking at the lions, tigers, giraffes and all the other circus animals. As I was passing the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from their 2)bonds but for some reason, they did not. I saw a trainer near by and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. 
多年前，在纽约的麦迪逊广场花园里，我走进了林林兄弟与巴纳姆贝利马戏团，拥有了一次相当独特的幕后经历。至少可以这样说，那是一次迷人的经历。我可以四处走动，看看狮子、老虎、长颈鹿和其他所有的马戏团动物。当我走过那群大象时，我突然停了下来。这些庞然大物只是被一根小绳绑着它们的前肢，这事让我困惑不已。没有链条，没有笼子。显然，那群大象随时都能挣脱这种束缚，然而出于某种原因，它们并没有这样做。我看见附近有一位驯兽师，于是问他为何这些美丽的庞然大物只是站在那儿，一点也没有要逃跑的意图。
“Well,” he said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they 3)are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They think the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
“噢，”他说道，“当它们还很年幼且个头比现在小得多的时候，我们就用同样大小的绳子绑住它们。在那个年龄，这样的绳子足以拴住它们。而随着年月增长，它们出于惯性而深信自己无法逃跑，仍然认为那根绳子能够拴住它们，于是便不再试图挣脱了。”
I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they could not, they were stuck right where they were.
我很是惊讶。这些动物随时都能挣脱他们身上的束缚，但却因为它们相信自己没有那个能力，结果让自己一直受困其中。
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life 4)hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us are being held back by old, outdated beliefs that no longer serve us? Have you avoided trying something new because of a limiting belief? Worse, how many of us are being held back by someone else's limiting beliefs? Do you tell yourself you can't sell because you're not a salesperson?
我们中有多少人何尝不像这些大象那样一辈子将自己禁锢于一种认为自己做不到的信念，而仅仅因为我们曾经失败过？我们中又有多少人被那些陈旧过时、不再对我们有所帮助的信念所阻拦？你是否曾经因为一种自我束缚的观念而避免尝试一些新事物？更糟的是，我们中有多少人因为他人的狭隘观念而固步自封？你是不是告诉过自己你无法推销因为你不是个天生的推销员？
Particularly in starting or running a business, we are cautioned not to take risks, usually by well intentioned friends and family. How many of us have heard, “You can't do that”? These are the dream stealers who, due to their own limiting beliefs, will attempt to discourage you from living your dreams. You must ignore them at all cost! I am not suggesting that you should not seek advice from qualified individuals and 5)mentors, but that you avoid like the6)plague being 7)swayed by the limiting beliefs of others, especially people who are not 8)in their own business.
尤其是在创业初始或是经营某项生意时，我们会被警告不要冒险，而这些警告通常来自我们那些出于好意的朋友和家人。我们中有多少人曾经听到过诸如“你不能那样做”的话？这些都是偷走梦想的人，他们出于个人的狭隘观念，会试图打击你实现梦想的壮志。你必须不惜任何代价来忽视他们！我并非说不去咨询请教于那些够资格给你意见的人或导师，但你就该像躲避瘟疫似地避免被那些想法局限的人所动摇，特别是那些并非自己创业营商的人。
Challenge your own limiting beliefs by questioning them. If you begin to question a belief, you 9)automatically weaken it. The more you question your limiting beliefs, the more they are weakened. It's like kicking the legs out from under a stool. Once you weaken one leg, the stool begins to lose its balance and fall. Think back to a time when you “sold” someone on yourself. We are selling all the time. You have to sell your ideas to your spouse, your children, and your employees—even your banker. Maybe, as a child, you sold 10)Girl Scout cookies or magazine 11)subscriptions to raise money for your school team. That was selling too!
对那些自我束缚的想法提出质疑，挑战那些观念。当你开始质疑一种观念时，你就是在开始削弱其力量。你越是质疑那些狭隘的观念，就越能削弱其力量。这就像踢掉凳子下面的凳腿。一旦你踢松了其中一条凳腿，整张凳子就开始失去平衡，接而倒塌。回想一下从前你是怎样独自向某人“推销”一些东西的。我们无时不在推销。你得把自己的想法推销给你的另一半、你的孩子和你的雇员……甚至是你的银行经理。也许，在孩童时期，你卖过女童子军饼干或是推销过杂志订阅，以此来为你的校队筹集资金。那也是一种推销！