Just a short post today on something I’ve been thinking about lately. What spurred me to think about it was the scene from the recent Batman movie when Bruce Wayne was stuck inside the underground prison and the only way to get out was to make the treacherous climb to the top. Anyone who wanted to try the climb had a harness tied around them and they were allowed to try their best while everyone watched. Bruce tried over and over but always came up JUST short.
After some soul searching and listening to the advice of a fellow prisoner, Bruce realized that he had to go without the harness and climb with the knowledge that if he didn’t make it, he would fall to his death. He ultimately made the climb and was able to escape the prison. He realized that the harness that saved him in case he fell was just a crutch that was holding him back from his true potential.
I’ve been thinking about this idea and times in my life where I have performed well because the situation was desperate or had some urgency to it. Now I wouldn’t go around putting myself in desperate situations just to see how I perform, but it is interesting to know how much better people could perform if success was literally the only option.
How could we apply this principle to improve our lives both personally and financially? Please comment below and share your thoughts.
I think we all strive better under extreme pressure when the safety harness isn’t there.
For me personally, this came when I spent around 2-3 years “learning French”. I would attend some evening classes for 4-5 sessions and then life would get in the way. I would get a personal tutor for 4-5 lessons, but then decide it wasn’t working. I basically didn’t progress.
However, I then moved to France for 2 years. Once you HAVE to do something, that thing becomes a lot easier.
Yes I’ve heard from many people that the best way to learn a language is to spend some time in the country which speaks that language so you have no other choice! It’s amazing how indecisive humans can act when we know there’s a way out. Thanks for the comment.