There are no limits. There are plateaus, and you must not stay there; you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. - Bruce Lee
Like many people, I think that Bruce Lee was an amazing person. He had his flaws, like every other human being, but the feats he was able to accomplish in martial arts are still legendary, nearly 40 years after his death.
What really struck home about this quote is that it directly contradicts my usual thinking. I enjoy new challenges like picking up a new instrument or learning a foreign language. At first I dedicate myself to my new endeavor almost to the point of obsession. The problem is that I almost always give up once I hit that plateau. Many times I stop when I reach the first bit of resistance.
I often feel limited and stuck, with no possibility of progress. I wonder how I could change my outlook from seeing only limitations and failures to viewing them as challenges and opportunities for growth. How can I possibly gain the attitude of "if it kills me, it kills me"? This paradigm shift is definitely not easy, but I'm certain that it is vital.
Instead of likening stagnations of progress to plateaus, perhaps we should think of them as steps. After all, plateaus stand tallest in the landscape, while steps are a vehicle to keep climbing. I'm sure that some of those steps will be higher and more frightening than others. There will not always be a guard rail. The danger of faltering and tumbling down the slope is always present. However, by consistently giving up halfway, I am depriving myself of some amazing views.
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