It may learn it can pick up tasty treats with its trunk, and so it remembers to do this.

Or someone may capture it when it’s little, and put a chain around its leg attached to a stake that’s too strong for it to pull away from. It will try with all its might, and only succeed in tearing its leg which causes more pain, so eventually, being smart, being able to learn, it gives up.

What it has learned is hopelessness and helplessness. This means for rest of its life, even when it weigh 6 tons and should be nearly impossible to contain, it will allow that chain on its leg to rule its life.

So there stands that 6-ton animal, tethered by nothing really, except its fearful memories.

Has this happened to you? (Think about it.)

A Fine Kettle Of Fish!

What a revolting development. What do we believe? What do we do? No wonder some people seem directionless in their pursuit of their goals. No wonder some people just settle for mediocrity in mid stream just to satisfy those conflicting emotions and shut them up. And, it's a pretty good way to boast success since we didn't follow through to see what would ultimately happen.

I'm thinking of too many times in my life as a young man that I stopped in mid stream to take what ever was there and stop feelings that kept saying; "if you keep going you might not get it; better take what you got now." You know that ole saying, "a bird in hand?"

I didn't want to hear that bird in hand crap. My head said that to me so many times I was beginning to feel as lucky as only man in a women's prison with a fist full of pardons. Talk about directionless; and settling for mediocrity.

Ah! That's Where The Rub Is!

The problem is: someone can get into a habit of "settling", and then that's real source of directionless and out of control life. As long as we live in this world, we will have opportunities to "settle" for something of mediocrity.

The more we "settle" more of a habit it becomes and more we sub-consciously start expecting a "settling point." We don't think about it and we certainly don't start out with intention of finding a place to settle. But, when it shows up, and "bird in hand" voices start their song and tap dance on our forehead, we say, I know when to hold em, and I know when to fold em, and its time to fold em.

The point is: it's not a bad thing to fold em if you can walk away ahead in game. But, if it becomes an ingrained habit then folding point will start showing up earlier and earlier till you find yourself folding right after start.

Get To The Bottom Of It!

How do you know when to fold? This is not rocket science. It's pretty simple really. Ask yourself a couple of key questions. Can I walk away ahead? Has this thing given me something of value? And most important; has something else presented itself in my life that I can replace this with?

For me, if any one of these three questions are "no", then I'm not ready to fold em; especially last one.

Would you like to know why we settle for something less? This is not really difficult to understand but it might be hard to accept. So pay attention, and at least give this some serious thought. Don't let simplicity of it get away from you. The reason is, we don't know "how" to fix it.

If we knew how, we would keep going. If we knew what to do, there would be no need to settle. If we knew what was going to happen in every circumstance, we would not worry! We would never worry. Think about it. The lack of knowledge.

Richard Vegas © Richard Vegas is a popular recording artist and internet marketing professional. He invites you to subscribe to his FREE weekly ezine "Wing-Tips" Teaching The Success System That Never Fails, at: http://www.1-work-at-home-based-business-opportunities.com You may also hear some of Richard's free music at: http://www.richardvegas.com