Lesson from an Insect

Good day

Excerpt from The Book You 2 by Price Pritchett

A True Story

"I’m sitting in a quiet room at the Millcroft Inn,
a peaceful little place hidden back among the pine trees about an hour out of Toronto.
It’s just past noon, late July, and I’m listening to the desperate sounds of a life-or-death struggle going on a few feet away.

There’s a small fly burning out the last of its short life’s energies in a futile attempt to fly through the glass of the windowpane. The whining wings tell the poignant story of the fly’s strategy---try harder.

But it’s not working.

The frenzied effort offers no hope for survival. Ironically, the struggle is part of the trap. It is impossible for the fly to try hard enough to succeed at breaking through the glass. Nevertheless, this little insect has staked its life of reaching its goal through raw effort and determination.

This fly is doomed. It will die there on the windowsill.

Across the room, ten steps away, the door is open. Ten seconds of flying time and this small creature could reach the outside world it seeks, With only a fraction of the effort now being wasted, it could be free of this self-imposed trap. The breakthrough possibility is there. It would be so easy.

Why doesn’t the fly try another approach, something dramatically different? How did it get so locked in on the idea that this particular route, and determined effort, offer the most promise for success? What logic is there in continuing, until death, to seek a breakthrough with “more of the same”?

No doubt this approach makes sense to the fly. Regrettably, it’s an idea that will kill.

“Trying harder” isn’t necessarily the solution to achieving more. It may not offer any real promise for getting what you want out of life. Sometimes, in fact, it’s a big part of the problem.

If you stake your hopes for a breakthrough on trying harder than ever, you may kill your chances for success." ~Price Pritchett

I read this over and over again & thought...

How true it is that when at first we don’t succeed we try, try again. In that trying, we return to the same failed method, telling ourselves to try harder this time.

How we can get caught up in the spiral of trying harder and harder which leads to the death of our dreams, our wishes.

Multiple attempts of futility will evoke many emotions - frustration, blame, feelings of failure; that we are failures.
None of these are motivating or will produce positive outcomes.

Our feelings and thoughts may be projected onto others or things.
Frankly, we are aware that they aren’t the cause of our exasperation; we are admonishing ourselves.

We aren’t good enough.
We feel our weaknesses & insecurities.
We doubt that our initial intention is even worth pursuing or doable.

What if the resolution was not always about trying harder?
What if it was about trying different?
Trying easier?

What if it was about stepping back and looking at ALL possible options?
About gathering more information?
Using allies?

We get caught in the pattern of doing what we know.
Doing what is familiar.
Doing what seems logical.

Growth means expanding beyond what we know.
It only seems logical because we have limited our thoughts.
The realm of the unfamiliar is where the magic happens.

The attribute of determination may be a good but determination that leads to destruction… not so much!

Sometimes we need to put the blinders on to assist with maintaining focus.
Other times the blinders need to come off so we can look around for the open door.

The skill is to have both methods available to you and know when to use them.
When at first you don’t succeed try again but be open to trying different.

If you know you want more from life but are unsure of what it is or how to go about it, you are welcome to connect with me for a complimentary Clarity Session. Let's get you excited and energized about pursuing what you desire in your life.

Stay Safe. Stay Well.

~Nancy

Wish it. Dream it. Do it!