We're All Hypntoized

The Elephant and the Rope

There’s a story about a man walking past a group of elephants. He suddenly stopped, puzzled by the sight of these massive creatures being held back by nothing more than a small rope tied to their front legs. No chains. No cages. Just a thin rope.

It was obvious to him that the elephants could easily break free at any moment, yet they stood still. Curious, the man asked a nearby trainer why the elephants didn’t even try to escape.

The trainer explained, “When they’re young, we use this same size rope to tie them. At that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they’re conditioned to believe they can’t break away. They don’t try because they truly believe the rope still holds them.”

The man was amazed. These magnificent animals, with all their power, were stuck simply because of a belief that was no longer true.

A Lifetime of Stories

You’ve been told a story. In fact, you’re living it right now.

Your story is made up of countless little narratives—some that connect, some that don’t—until you give them meaning. These stories shape how you see yourself and the world.

At your most vulnerable, you accepted pieces of this story without question. It came from trusted voices, from moments that stuck with you when you didn’t know any better. Over time, you started to believe this narrative, and it began influencing your choices, your emotions, your very identity.

But here’s the twist: this story isn’t just words—it’s everything your senses consume. The information constantly flowing in doesn’t just challenge your beliefs; it reinforces the comfortable lies you tell yourself. Even when the story limits you, it feels safe. Familiar.

You’re not just stuck. You’re hypnotized.

Paradigm

Your perception shapes your reality. Through your senses, you gather material that your mind uses to create mental pictures. When you meditate on these images, they become the foundation of your beliefs. Those beliefs then show up in your words, your habits, and your actions.

What you focus on becomes your truth.

Operating Systems

In 1946, R.W. Gerard wrote, “It is sad but true that most of our understanding of the mind would remain as valid and useful if, for all we knew, the cranium were stuffed with cotton wadding.”

Since then, we’ve learned much more about the brain’s incredible design. In Psycho-Cybernetics, Dr. Maxwell Maltz described the brain as a “goal-striving mechanism.” While it processes the information you feed it, you get to decide what to believe.

Like an elephant tied to a stake, many people think they’re defined by past experiences or the input they receive from others. But your brain doesn’t define you; it’s a tool. A powerful one.

Your imagination is the key to taking control. By intentionally choosing what you focus on, you can reprogram your mental operating system. Stop reacting to the circumstances around you. Start creating the life you want to live.

Choice

Animals operate on instinct. Their goals—survival and procreation—are pre-set. Humans are different.

We have creative imagination—the ability to choose our goals and direct our lives. Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart called imagination “the great spring of human activity” and the source of human improvement. Without it, he said, we’d be no better than animals.

But here’s the catch: our imagination weakens when we stop using it intentionally. The more we consume interpretations of reality—scrolling through social media, absorbing others’ narratives—the more we let external influences shape our beliefs.

To reclaim control, we must actively use our imagination to visualize, create, and refine the life we want.

Being

Abraham Maslow proposed that self-actualization—becoming the best version of ourselves—requires us to know who we are. His studies of healthy individuals found that they shared key traits: they were self-aware, secure, and deeply connected to their sense of purpose.

But most of us are stuck in survival mode, chained by fear. We build walls, avoid risk, and criticize those who dare to dream. Why? Because it’s easier to stay tethered to a familiar story than to confront the unknown.

Here’s the truth: you’re more than your circumstances, your habits, or your past. You’re a creator with the ability to imagine and reimagine your future. But to unlock your potential, you must take back control of your imagination.

Introspection

Have you ever stopped to question the things you say or do on autopilot?

Do your actions align with who you claim to be?

If there’s a gap between your words and your reality, maybe it’s time to change the story you’re telling yourself.

Susceptible

The American Psychological Association defines hypnosis as a process that relaxes the mind and makes it open to suggestion. While hypnosis has therapeutic uses, it also serves as a metaphor for how we become trapped by the stories we repeat.

Dr. Maltz explained that imagination—not willpower—is what drives human behavior. “We act, or fail to act, in accordance with what we imagine to be true.”

Habits form because we’re trying to manage emotional responses—seeking pleasure or avoiding pain. But when we leave our imagination on autopilot, we let external influences hijack it.

Reclaiming control requires intentional effort. Redirect your focus. Choose what you meditate on. And remember: your imagination isn’t just a reflection of reality—it’s the tool you use to create it.