On a Friday morning, which started as any other weekdays for me, little did I know that I was going to have an early morning lesson from an unexpected teacher – a spider. Yes, you got it right – a spider. Not any spider in general but the one which I witnessed while on my way to college became the catalyst for my profound realization, which remains as captured in this thought snapshot.
Stuck between the sliding glasses of the bus, the spider seemed content in its self-created safe space. It appeared hesitant to move out despite an opening at the other end of the glass – likely to a promising freedom. Throughout the half-hour journey, most of my attention was centered to this tiny creature, repeatedly moving a short distance within the glass, only to retreat to its familiar spot after encountering any shakes due to bums along the road (the actual one). It seemed like the spider had created it’s own comfort zone within the glass from which it was not so willing to get out. But yet contemplating that though. The final push seemed to be missing in each of it’s attempt likely due to that “uncertainty” of what lies ahead.
I continued to observe the spider’s journey in between those two sliding glasses. During this observation, I couldn’t help draw parallels to our own lives. Much like the spider (in the thought snapshot here), we often set out on personal and professional journeys. But with even the slightest of turbulence along the way, we often retreat to our self-imposed comfort zones. The uncertainty of what lies beyond holds us back, stopping us from making difficult decisions or taking leaps in fear of the unknown consequences – much like the spider hesitating to leave its self-created safety zone.
At the end of the glass, the spider didn’t knew what waited for it. Would it make any difference if the outcome was known and it’s the freedom, a better world that was on offer? With the outcome unknown, even the slightest of the bump, vibration made the spider return back to the shell. Maybe it could have been a completely different story with the outcome known? In the last five minutes of the journey, the spider, facing multiple setbacks and lacking motivation, remained motionless. Life was comfortable within its familiar position. Why try? Why endure the struggle?
This scenario reflects a universal truth applicable to all of us. Much like the spider, we construct our own metaphorical glass walls, often hesitating to move forward after encountering failures or succumbing to overthinking. We conceive groundbreaking ideas but extinguish them within ourselves, citing commitments, perceived risks, and a lack of willpower to persevere. We fail to pay attention to the whispers of our intuition.
The root cause? Fear. We fear the unknown, fear stepping off our metaphorical auto-pilot, and fear what we cannot predict. It’s crucial to recognize that everything around you, your life included, was shaped by individuals no smarter than yourself. You have the power to change it, influence it, and build things that others can use. Believe in yourself; you are your best ally, capable of crafting the life you desire.
The decision is yours. Will you remain within your comfort zone, fearing the unpredictable, or will you step off your auto-pilot to make a difference? The spider’s lesson echoes louder than its tiny form – it’s time to break free from your self-imposed glass walls and embrace the uncertain, ever-changing world beyond.
Think. What is stopping you from taking that leap ahead in your life?
Now, what are you going to do about it?
