We are human and often don’t want to acknowledge that we have personal limitations. Have you seen people who think a bit too much of themselves? In their eyes they can do anything and do it well. I learned a long time ago that I am far from perfect. No matter how much I wanted to be and tried to be perfect, it was just not possible. Imagine the feeling of relief that came with that realization!

John Maxwell shared in his leadership tape entitled, Learning from Your Limitations, that it is when we realize we have some problems and limitations that we are ready for a real breakthrough in our lives. However, we must begin to work through the problems and limitations in order to see that positive change.

Dr. Maxwell gave the example of the elephant who can pick up 100 tons with his trunk, but stands still when tied to a small wooden stake. Why would an animal with all that strength do such a thing? Elephants are trained when they are young. They are tied by a rope to a metal stake secured deep in the ground and no matter how hard they try to get away, they can’t. Because of this conditioning, they don’t even try when they are grown because they learned that it wasn’t possible. Therefore, the elephant lets the limitation set on him by someone else keep him from reaching his potential.

We often do the same things. Because someone put limiting ideas in our minds in the past, maybe even as a child, we continue to accept them and don’t even try to reach our potential. According to Dr. Maxwell, “the three times people change are when they hurt enough that they have to, they learn enough that they want to and when they receive enough that they are able to.“

I encourage you to recognize and deal with the limitations you have allowed to remain in your life so that you can begin today to live your life to the fullest!