| I'm sitting in a quiet room at the Milcroft 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 on 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 eventually kill the fly. 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.
Thoughts:
This reflection was written by Price
Pritchet, May 26, 2003. Isn't it true that we often cannot see
the opportunities that are staring us in the face? We carry on doing
what we have always done, hoping that somehow this time we will get a
different result. That outlook is the modern definition of insanity. If
we want something different, we have to do something different.
Sometimes we focus on the results without ever questioning why we want
them. If you feel like the fly, looking at what you want through the
glass bur never quite managing to get it within your grasp, then Professional
Coaching can help. They will provide you with a new perspective on
things that will allow you to see the door just a few feet away. It is
already there - you just need to look with new eyes. If you would like to take
a new perspective on life and find the doorway to what you want, why don't you contact
me and together we will map out your Neural Pathways to find a new
route to your chosen destination. Eric
Sutherland
Make the Connection |
