Getting Rid of Plan B

Have you ever had a burning desire so intense but felt that there was something holding you back? Have you ever wanted a better life for yourself or your family but for some reason you seemed unable to make progress? You are not alone. Many of us have felt stuck as some unseen force seems to zap us of our energy when we need it most. Often we are barely keeping our heads above water on our way to personal freedom.

There is a famous scene in the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. In this scene, Bruce Wayne has been physically crippled and thrown down a large pit. A community of people have been trapped in the pit for years and are unable to escape. They still try unsuccessfully to make the dangerous climb for freedom by strapping themselves with rope and moving upwards along the rocks. Bruce Wayne wanted to recover and leave as soon as possible to get back to saving Gotham city. Frustrated after each attempt, he became angry.

After talking to a blind man who had been living in a cell within the pit, Bruce Wayne found the solution to his problem: getting rid of Plan B. By trying to make the climb with a rope tied around his waist, he was allowing his mind the security of a safety net. He was comforted by the fact that at least failure would not be fatal. The old man in the cell compelled him to embrace his fear and make the climb without the rope.

Afterward, Bruce Wayne started the climb once again but this time with nothing but the clothes on his back. Onlookers began to chant "RISE! RISE! RISE!" while he traversed the treacherous path. If he were to fall from this height with no rope he would surely perish. Then, in (my opinion) one of the greatest scenes in movie history, Bruce Wayne jumped and finally caught the ledge that so many had fallen from. He climbed out of the pit and lowered a rope for others to follow. This taught me another lesson that when we succeed we create an opportunity for others to succeed as well.

The real kicker is that, although known for being fearless, his fear is what set him free in the end. Knowing that this would be his one final chance to escape, it gave him the strength and will to make the climb. In our lives, we may have dreams of becoming elite in our field or having massive success in one area. Often, our attentions are divided and we put eggs in many baskets. There is something magical about having no Plan B. It allows us to focus and concentrate more thoroughly on the task in front of us. When we realize we have nothing to fall back on, there is nowhere to go but up.

Be encouraged in your life to let go of Plan B. Put your attention wholeheartedly on your dreams. Work steadily towards your goal and it WILL become a reality!

By Jerome Shaw. Find me on Twitter and Instagram: @jromeshaw