The use of chains dates back to at least the Old Kingdom of Egypt, around 2600 BC. Ancient Egyptians and later the Babylonians utilized chains for decorative purposes, as evidenced by examples of jewelry found in royal tombs. Chains also played a role in religious rituals, offering protection to priests and worshippers, or as a means to link the wearers to the gods.
Molded from bronze, silver, gold, or other precious metals, these hand-crafted pieces of jewelry adorned the bodies of Pharaohs, Kings, and Queens, as well as priests, royal officials, and other high-status and wealthy individuals living in these ancient lands.
They served as status symbols or symbols of authority.
Chains were also used, in the form of shackles, to restrain prisoners working in the mines or housed in prisons. They also served to control the movements of prisoners as they were being transported from place to place.
With the advent of iron, chains took on even more utilitarian roles. Early Romans used chains primarily for pulling and lifting, as well as powering ancient water collection equipment. Made from iron links, chains were instrumental in construction and shipbuilding, both for moving, hoisting, and securing large objects or groups of objects.
As early as the 3rd century BC, the use of chain mail, a form of body armor, appeared in Carpathia and later spread across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. By the 18th century AD, the use of chain mail was commonplace in most of the modern militaries of this era, providing varying levels of protection from sword, knife, spear, and arrow. Its popularity was due, in part, to its relatively light weight and effectiveness in combat.
In the 16th century, Leonardo da Vinci sketched designs for early iron chains, focusing on their structure, strength, and potential applications. He demonstrated that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and he began incorporating the use of chains into various mechanical and engineering inventions.
The “ball and chain” as a prison restraint dates back to the 17th century. It was widely used in the British Empire and its colonies until the mid-20th century. The chain was attached to the prisoner’s ankle by a shackle, with the other end of the chain attached to the ball.
The weight of the ball, often determined by the court, could range from five to twenty-five pounds. The ball and chain was primarily employed in prisons and penal colonies.
The American prison system used chains as a physical restraint, often chaining prisoners together to form chain gangs. This form of punishment was prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries, especially with work details, and continued into the early 20th century in the South.
Since the days of the Pharaohs, chains have been used to restrain individuals. Chains have also been used to secure heavy loads, restraining their movement during transport and while being stored.
Why the history lesson on chains?
Once bound by chains, movement is limited, and freedom is denied.
People do this every day.
People, even those close to you, will attempt to force you to conform to the version of you they see. Unchecked, they will attempt to chain you to their version of you, restraining you from rising to your full potential.
Don’t believe me?
Ask Kobe Bryant.
After starting as a freshman on the varsity team, Kobe Bryant broke several records and led his team to a state championship as a senior. He broke the Southeastern Pennsylvania scoring record (set by Wilt Chamberlain) and was named Player of the Year multiple times, and earned McDonald’s All-American recognition his senior year. After graduating, he opted to forego college and declared himself eligible for the NBA draft.
Kobe was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets, the 13th overall pick in the 1996 draft. The Hornets questioned whether Kobe would be able to make the transition from High School to NBA basketball. He was essentially told he would be of no use to the team and was later traded to the Lakers for Vlade Divac.
Jerry West, general manager of the Lakers, saw Bryant’s potential and noted that he believed the Lakers had gotten the best player in the draft. History has proven him right.
After joining the L.A. Lakers, Kobe went on to enjoy an illustrious 20-year career, leading the Lakers to 5 NBA Championships and becoming one of the most recognized faces in the world. Today, he is considered one of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball.
Bryant shared the reason for his trade in a post on Twitter on July 1, 2014:
“On this day 18yrs ago the hornets told me right after they drafted me that they had no use for me and were going to trade me #thanku #lakers”
Kobe Bryant refused to be chained by someone else’s opinion of him.
He chose instead to refuse to be bound by the opinions of others, choosing instead to redefine his ideal life based on his vision of who he was, and more importantly, who he could become. He ignored the naysayers, proved them wrong, and stepped into his greatness.
Kobe Bryant isn’t alone.
Walt Disney was fired from his first job as a newspaper artist because he “lacked creativity.” Albert Einstein was told by his teacher he would never amount to anything and was labeled as “mentally slow.” Thomas Edison attended school for only a few months as a child, and was told by a teacher he was a confused child, unable to think clearly.
Henry Ford’s first two auto companies failed. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school team. Steven Slielberg was rejected from film school three times. Elvis Presley was fired by the Grand Ole Opry and told to go back to truck driving.
Colonel Harland Sanders was rejected over 1000 times before he found a franchise partner for his KFC brand. Sir James Dyson failed over 5,000 times before he created the first working Dyson vacuum cleaner. Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first job as a TV news anchor.
Each of these individuals had to break free from the chains of the opinions of others, freeing themselves from their limited beliefs of who they were and who they could become. They chose instead to redefine the ideal version of themselves, believing they were capable of saying, doing, and becoming more.
They refused to be defined by the people around them, who only saw them as they were, choosing instead to write their own limitless definition of themselves, seeing themselves as they could be…and more importantly, would be.
These individuals chose to live unchained lives, free of the limiting opinions of others. Instead, they looked within and saw four things that empowered them to live life on their own terms and rise to their full potential.
First, they saw their potential.
Where others saw individuals who were broken, unqualified, or unteachable, these men and women chose to look within and see a future version of themselves that saw their untapped capabilities, abilities, and possibilities that others didn’t recognize, or chose not to see.
These individuals saw a future version of themselves that was equipped, empowered, and enlightened. Not only did they see their limitless future, but they also saw the path they would need to take to become that person. They clearly understood their strengths, talents, and the areas where they had the capacity to learn, grow, and improve.
This served as a catalyst for personal growth, each pathway as unique as the individual who chose to walk it.
Secondly, they saw the value within themselves. Einstein, Edison, and the rest recognized their self-worth early on, appreciating their inherent value despite the lack of external validation or accomplishments. Their belief in themselves served as a catalyst for change, transforming them into the image they held of themselves from their youth.
Thirdly, they saw as yet untapped capabilities within. Think back to Kobe Bryant’s choice not to allow the Hornets’ opinion of his potential to limit him. He recognized and acknowledged all the things he was capable of saying, doing, and becoming, and used that to create a training regimen that honed his skills, knowledge, and abilities to a world-class level.
Because he was aware of his capabilities, he was able to set realistic and achievable goals that aligned with his strengths. Now he could pursue new challenges, expand his horizons of what was possible, and remain in the growth zone.
When you know your capabilities, your confidence gets a huge boost.
Lastly, Sanders, Ford, and the rest saw limitless possibilities all around them. As they continued down the path of personal growth, they daily became a better version of who they were and what they were capable of doing. As such, their minds were opened to challenge the status quo, question what could be, and envision innovative ideas that others either chose not to see, or didn’t believe were possible.
Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan wanted the ball to take the winning shot with two seconds on the clock. Why? They saw possibilities to make the basket that other players on the floor couldn’t see. Thomas Edison envisioned a futuristic world of inventions that to the rest of the world were mere fantasies.
When others scoffed and tried to limit his vision of success, Col. Sanders saw a KFC in every town across America, offering “finger lickin’ good” chicken to families nationwide. Elvis Presley saw screaming throngs of fans packing a stage when the Grand Ole Opry told him he couldn’t cut it as a singer.
What about you?
Dean Graziosi famously asks the question, “Who’s steering your ship?” That person dictates where you go, when you go there, how quickly or slowly you make the journey, and how many stops you’ll make along the way. The Captain of your ship is in control of your destiny.
If you permit other people’s opinions of you to restrain you, confine you, or dictate the terms and conditions of your life, you’re not the Captain of your ship.
So, who’s writing the definition of your life?
Is it you, or someone else?
People, even those close to you, will attempt to force you to conform to the version of you they see. Unchecked, they will attempt to chain you to their version of you, restraining you from rising to your full potential.
If others are defining your life, it’s time to break these chains and redefine what your ideal life looks like. Stop allowing others to tell you what you can’t say, do, or become. You were put on this earth on purpose, for a purpose, so go and equip yourself to fulfill that purpose and make the difference you’ve been put on this earth to make.
While you’re at it, stop seeing yourself as you are, and start seeing yourself as you can be. Stop looking at your current limitations, and start focusing on what you can and will become as you learn, grow, improve, and daily become a better version of who you are and what you do. Grab that image, hold on to it, and don’t let it go until you see that future version of yourself looking back at you in the mirror.
YOU have the power to change the definition, and the trajectory, of your life.
How high and how far do you want to go?
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