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Drop That Grimy Tennis Ball and Get Rid of Your Limiting Beliefs

Posted by Ilka Flood | Posted in Personal Development | Posted on 12-08-2010

36

Limiting beliefs Can Really Hold You Back

Georgi - Learning about Limiting Beliefs

My last blog post was about the fact that dogs really don’t love bones. (Who would have thought?) They just settle for them. The moral of the story … why would anyone (dogs or humans) settle for less.

Well, there are actually reasons why we are settling for less than we could have and I will illustrate that in another story from the great personal development seminar I attended last weekend.

So here’s the “rest of the story”…The story of Gus, the lab, and the tennis balls

Gus, like all dogs, loves to play with tennis balls. (Our dog Georgi goes nuts over them as well.) So his owner, would bounce a brand new tennis ball a couple of times just to tease Gus and then he would throw it and Gus would go to retrieve it. But he wouldn’t drop it once he brought it back. Instead it would take some prying that ball out of his mouth.

Of course that ball then would be soaked with drool. Yuck!

Anyway, Gus’ owner would throw it again. This time purposely right into the dirt. Gus again would go get it and bring it back. But then, instead of prying that grimy ball out of Gus’ mouth his owner would bounce a brand new tennis ball in the hopes that Gus would drop the one he has in his mouth. Of course he doesn’t. He’s hanging on to that yucky, dirty, slimy ol’ ball.

As a matter of fact, it will take several more throws of that brand new tennis ball before Gus finally will let go of his grimy treasure.

What’s the take away of this story?

That grimy tennis ball symbolizes the limiting beliefs we are sometimes holding on to and which keep us from achieving the success we desire and deserve.  It is just easier to hang on to them and use them as an excuse instead of getting rid of them and to take action to change our life.

Such limiting beliefs as…

  • I am too old to do this business.
  • I don’t have enough experience.
  • Rejections from our prospects.
  • I’m not good enough.
  • I tried this before without success why would it work now?
  • I’m not smart enough.
  • I cannot do this because…

Well, you get the point.

Just think about it. These limiting beliefs are actually what is holding us back from accomplishing our goals and live our dreams. We do deserve better!

We can start overcoming limiting beliefs by silencing that critical little voice inside of our head and start turning negative self-talk into positive self-talk.

The only way we can make room for positive thoughts though is if we drop our negative thoughts (that grimy tennis ball) first.

Go drop your limiting beliefs and fetch some “I Cans”

To your success,

Ilka Flood
The Enlightened Networker

P.S. I tried that game on Georgi this afternoon by the way. And either Georgi is smarter than Gus, or he just doesn’t care about dirty tennis balls. Anyway, he went after the new one every time. Another reason could be of course that Georgi just doesn’t have any limiting beliefs and is just going for the prize every single time. Smart Dog!

P.P.S. If you liked this story and it made sense, please share it with your friends on Twitter or Facebook. Thank you!

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Comments (36)

Michael Novak said on 12-08-2010

Great analogy Ilka! I loved it!

I have two golden retrievers and they go after the new one everytime as well. They must be smarter than Gus too. :)

Again I loved the post Ilka. Thank you for sharing it.

~ Michael Novak
Michael Novak invites you to read..The Best Industry to Learn LeadershipMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 8:57 pm

Hi Michael,

Thanks for stopping by and for your great comment! I love Golden Retrievers. We used to have one when our kids where still small. Great dogs!

Talk to you later!

Ilka

[Reply]
Janette Stoll said on 12-08-2010

Totally agree, Ilka! I think people settle because of the nature of adaptability. In humans and animals, the ability to adapt to any situation or environment is both good and bad.

Like our sense of smell- I always rave at the amazing aromas of a bakery but ask the baker and he’ll tell ya “I can’t smell anything”. He has adapted :) .

Janette

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 9:05 pm

Hi Janette,

Yeah, I think you’re right. I just read an article about a lady who ‘downsized’ herself. Getting rid of her car, most of her belongings …clothes, tv, etc., and now lives in a 400 square feet studio. She’s happier. …Oh, and she got rid of her $30,000 debt too.

Well, that’s all good, and may be food for thought on a totally different post. She dropped that grimy ball and went into a totally different direction :)

Thanks for stopping by and your great comment!

Have a nice day!

Ilka

[Reply]
Peter Fuller MBA
Twitter:
said on 12-08-2010

Hey Ilka

I just spent the last five minutes explaining to my dog Sammy the concept of the grimy, dirty ball.

He kept cocking his head, but no luck,

Thank god we are smarter than dogs :)
Peter Fuller MBA invites you to read..Does Your Home Business Make You Feel UncomfortableMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 9:07 pm

Hi Peter,

Thanks for making me laugh. You’re awesome!!

You’re not supposed to explain it… You’re supposed to SHOW him. Throw that darn thing, lol :)

Chat with you later,

Ilka

[Reply]
Marcus Baker
Twitter:
said on 12-08-2010

Loved the story Ilka but then being a “dog person” you had my attention from the start.

I shared a very close bond with my last dog, a Cocker Spaniel who I rescued from the most appalling abusive circumstances.

I always said that I learned more from him than I have from many human beings. Cocker Spaniels are renowned for being food obsessive but the lesson I learned from him in this regard was one about persistence.

He knew that he got fed at a certain time each evening but he would start reminding me 2 hours prior every day and even though he knew I never wavered on time, he did that for 14 years. And he was right he did always get fed in the end.

~Marcus
Marcus Baker invites you to read..Does Attraction Marketing Work For Everyone – The Truth RevealedMy Profile

[Reply]

Peter Fuller MBA
Twitter:
Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 10:46 pm

Hey Marcus, Sammy is a Cocker Spaniel. He stares at me in the morning looking for any sign of life, When he sees it he runs to his food bowl and starts to tap it with his paws.
Peter Fuller MBA invites you to read..Does Your Home Business Make You Feel UncomfortableMy Profile

[Reply]
Neil said on 13-08-2010

Hi Ilka,

I know people say to let the negative thought just drift away, but when my voice shows up
I swear at it and tell it I don’t need it anymore.

It”s ok it’s me anyway ;)

I have a cat.

Neil
Neil invites you to read..Working From Home – I’m not there yetMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 13th, 2010 at 6:36 pm

Hi Neil,

As long as you don’t listen to that negative thought I guess that would be okay too. The point is, you don’t want to allow anything to hold you back.

I love cats too :)

Have a great weekend!

Ilka

[Reply]
kiaran finn said on 14-08-2010

Hi Ilka – its so true isn’t it that limiting beliefs manifest in perpetuating the cycle of helplessness.

Whilst a positive belief system doesn’t guarantee success – some beliefs are based on deluded expectations -such as believing you’ll win Lotto (some people believe this can be manifested – not me!)

However I 100% believe that your successes will never exceed that which you truly believe is attainable

Thanks for sharing cheers Kiaran

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 14th, 2010 at 11:28 am

Hi Kiaran,

Yes, I agree with everything you said. I also believe that your bank account grows as you grow.

You can do it if you believe you can!
– Napoleon Hill

Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

Ilka

[Reply]
Josh Garcia said on 14-08-2010

Hey Ilka,

I don’t have a dog but I still love the story.

I’m going to stand in my driveway bouncing a tennis ball so I can see the reaction of the dog when they are being walked. I might even throw it to see what happens. :)

Have a great weekend…
Josh
Josh Garcia invites you to read..10 Reasons Why Some Blogs Become More Popular Than Others- Part IIMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 14th, 2010 at 12:57 pm

Hi Josh,

You are too funny! Thanks for making me laugh!

Hey and let me know how your experiment works out :)

Have a great weekend!

Ilka

[Reply]
Oliver Tausend
Twitter:
said on 14-08-2010

Hi Ilka,

I enjoyed reading this blog post because I love this analogy and the lesson. If we settle for second place voluntarily, our subconscious mind will be very unmotivated to help us because it knows that we’re underestimating us and selling ourselves short.

Thanks for sharing this story.

Take care

Oliver
Oliver Tausend invites you to read..The Anatomy Of Quitting – Can We Do Anything My Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 14th, 2010 at 3:22 pm

Hi Oliver,

Thanks for stopping by and for your great comment!

You’re right, we should never settle for second best. The subconscious mind is a very powerful thing. It translates into reality what we feed it. It would become a vicious circle if we keep feeding it mediocrity.

Have an awesome weekend!

Ilka

[Reply]
Heather C Stephens said on 14-08-2010

As the owner of an 11 year old chocolate lab, I’ve handled my share of slimy grimy tennis balls. Our dog actually likes to eat the fuzz off the tennis ball. :)

But I do think that your story of the grimy tennis ball does ring so true. We all have a tendency to hang on to our stories because they’re an excuse as to why we aren’t working to our fullest potential. But, we know we’re growing when we get to the point where we actually notice the new clean tennis balls in our life, and make an effort to get them!

Thanks for the fun story!

Heather
Heather C Stephens invites you to read..Stage Fright! My Experience Guest Blogging on TyTribbleComMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 12:21 pm

Hi Heather,

Isn’t that funny. Georgi loves to do the same thing. Must be something about that fuzz.

You’re right, going after something “new” is the only way to grow.

Have an awesome week!

Ilka

[Reply]
Jym
Twitter:
said on 15-08-2010

Hi Ilka,

I love the story and the message in this post. The way dogs possessively cling to balls, socks, sticks or whatever is very reminiscent of us humans and our beliefs. At the end of the day, what are our beliefs except limits to be transcended anyway.

It’s an important and challenging work to identify and dissolve unhelpful beliefs but I think you’re absolutely right, they can be overcome, and must be if we wish to manifest our highest visions and dreams.

Thanks for a great post!

Jym
Jym invites you to read..Blog- Schmog Optimize YOURSELF!My Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 1:31 pm

Hi Jym,

Thanks for stopping by!

You said it … we MUST overcome our limiting beliefs in order to manifest our highest visions and dreams. It’s the only way. No pain, no gain!

Have an awesome week!

Ilka

[Reply]
Ana | Traffic Generation Cafe
Twitter:
said on 15-08-2010

Loved the story, Ilka – I could just picture Gus with that disgusting ball in his mouth:).

I do understand how Gus feels though – it’s easier to have something tangible in your hands rather than forgo it for something unknown.

Yet it’s the only way to grow and achieve your dreams rather than just… well, dream about them.

Thanks for food for thought, Ilka!

Ana Hoffman
Ana | Traffic Generation Cafe invites you to read..Is Google Waving Goodbye to Tag CloudsMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 12:23 pm

Hi Ana,

Well, you know what they say about the bird in the hand versus two in the bush. However, that’s a classic example of “settling.”

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week, Ana!

Ilka

[Reply]
Mavis Nong
Twitter:
said on 15-08-2010

Hi Ilka,

I loved your analogy. You’re so right, so we should let go of our limiting beliefs if we want to achieve our goals.

Thanks for sharing this.

All the best,
Mavis Nong
Mavis Nong invites you to read..How To Avoid Getting Your WordPress Blog Hacked Into!My Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 12:28 pm

Hi Mavis,

Definitely! Let go! Trust me, I know first hand that it’s not easy. But, it’s the only way to grow.

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” ~Albert Einstein

“If we’re growing we’re always going to be out of our comfort zone.” ~ John Maxwell

Have a great week!

Ilka

[Reply]
Keith Davis said on 15-08-2010

Hi Ilka
What a great way to set out a post using a clever story to make your point.
I had to read the post because I wanted to get to the point of the story… and take a look at the solution.

Time for me to let go of those old limiting beliefs…. no more grimy tennis balls for me from now on. LOL
Keith Davis invites you to read..A splash of colourMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 1:40 pm

Hi Keith,

Thanks for stopping by! It’s very nice to meet you.

I do like to use stories to make a point. Stories make it more memorable. Of course I can’t take credit for this one as I heard it at a recent company event.

Thank you for your input! It’s very much appreciated.

Have a great week!

Ilka

[Reply]
Connie Clark said on 15-08-2010

I loved this Post; I haven’t tried the new tennis ball on Snowball yet, but will do so soon.

Thanks again for a great Post. Positive thoughts produce much better Karma.

Warmly,
Connie Clark
303-770-3180
Connie Clark invites you to read..Energy … Natural ATP Production in the body!My Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 6:11 pm

Hey Ms Connie,

Nice to see your smiley face. Love that picture too :)

Yeah, Georgi didn’t go after the dirty ball. He liked the bright yellow new ones. Smart dog!

Have an awesome week, Connie!

(((Hugs)))

Ilka

P.S. We should do lunch sometime :)

[Reply]
Jerome Ratliff said on 15-08-2010

Hi Ilka,

I know what this exactly like, especially seeing my dog do this as well.

Thanks for this great story, it reminds of what I had to go through.

Personally, I used to have such a hard time letting go of my self-limiting beliefs. Not really sure why. Then a few years back I needed a change because if I didn’t change those bad beliefs then there was no doubt they were going to keep me stuck.

I shared a little about this story with Monique and Derek Alvarez on one of their weekly calls.

Just letting go was such a relief. I know it sounds little cliche, but it did feel like a huge boulder was lifted from my shoulders.

Thanks again, I always love your stories.

Have a great day,
Jerome Ratliff
Jerome Ratliff invites you to read..Tom Challan ReviewMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 15th, 2010 at 7:36 pm

Hi Jerome,

I think I listened to that call you mentioned. It was when Monique and Derek interviewed you, right? That was a great call by the way!

Yeah, letting go, opens up space for greatness.

Thanks for taking time out of your very busy schedule to leave me your thoughts! I appreciate you!

Have an awesome week!

Ilka

[Reply]
Brenda Freeman said on 17-08-2010

Loved this story. Fantastic illustration of how people hold on to their limiting beliefs.

Taking stock of my beliefs was my first step in my recent journeys. I didn’t want to let go of those old tennis balls either, but once I did, I understood I could have a new ball each time. very liberating!

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
August 17th, 2010 at 5:17 pm

Hi Brenda,

Thanks for stopping by! It is very nice to meet you :)

You are absolutely right. Letting go of those limiting beliefs is very liberating. It makes room for the new, for the exciting, for the adventure. It frees our minds for the positive thoughts we need to succeed.

Feel free to stop back by anytime and leaving your great feedback.

Ilka

[Reply]
Melisa West said on 04-09-2010

Hey Ilka!

It’s crazy how people want to hold on to their old ways of thinking. I will admit that I don’t think you ever stop working to overcome them and you have to constantly be on guard about what you allow to enter your brain.

Great Post! I am loving these! :-)

Melisa
Melisa West invites you to read..The Importance Of Being You Network Marketing TrainingMy Profile

[Reply]

Ilka Flood Reply:
September 5th, 2010 at 1:10 pm

Hey Melisa,

You said something very important …”you have to constantly be on guard about what you allow to enter your brain.’

That’s why I tell my kids all the time … “garbage in, garbage out.” They’ll learn eventually … I hope :)

Cheers,
Ilka

[Reply]
Rae said on 29-03-2011

Very inspirational. Limits should be remove if you eant to move forward.

[Reply]
Michael Berry said on 22-08-2011

I just love the community and your post Drop That Grimy Tennis Ball and Get Rid of Your Limiting Beliefs, thanks for sharing Ilka. I love a post that has real value. Take care, Michael

[Reply]

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