What are you tied to?

I was born with my umbilical cord tied in a knot. That’s right. Somehow, some way I was able to tie my life source into a knot. (Seems like that alone is an interesting metaphor!)

It didn’t really pose a problem for me when I was still comfortably inside. But you can imagine the problematic situation that occurred when I decided to embark upon the world! I started making my way down the tunnel of life, and what happened to that knot? That’s right, it tightened. It began to cut off my oxygen supply.

Fortunately, I was ok. The umbilical cord was so long that it didn’t completely tighten during the birthing process, and I emerged fully breathing, fully functional, and without any serious brain trauma (although my kids still question the validity of that!)

When I tell that story, inevitably someone suggests that I was lucky the cord was so long, that if it was shorter, I may have had some serious consequences. Maybe? And I typically respond that maybe I was unlucky, and that if the cord was shorter, I may not have had enough rope to tie it into a knot to begin with!

What is your perspective? So was I lucky? Or was I unlucky?

The paradox here is that it doesn't matter. It’s not an issue of lucky or unlucky. What is important is that I am not tied to it anymore. The cord is no longer my lifeline.

So it is with things in your past. If you look back at the challenges you have confronted, how do you view them? Optimistically? Pessimistically? What is most important is whether or not you are still tied to them.

Just like an umbilical cord, our past can become our lifeline...something we rely on. Anger, negativity, trauma, fear, can become something that we rely on...like we are tied to it. We can also become reliant on positive memories (we all know the 48 year-old who continues to bring up the winning touchdown play in high school).

The past is gone. If you are tied to it and you continue to pull that cord, eventually the knot tightens and you lose the oxygen and nourishment that gives you growth.

Profound Leaders disconnect from old cords. They disconnect from old challenges that are no longer needed. They grow. Profound Leaders venture down the tunnel of life and find their oxygen and nourishment in a new way.

If you remain attached to your challenges, it can shape your mindset, and it will offer you excuses. But it keeps you looking backwards. Your fulfillment, your success, and your leadership will depend on how long that cord can stretch before your knot tightens and cuts off your oxygen.

But if you cut the cord, you will look forward into the future. And that's where the Profound Leader's vision is living. The future.

What are you tied to?

Go be Profound.

G