“I wish I could start anew!” is an often-heard statement by the average
types who feel that they have been caught in one of the common dead ends
of existence, usually as a result of previous poor decisions. And
mostly it is nothing more than the attempt to ask for another chance
after they have screwed up things entirely. No wonder that second
chances, if offered, lead them into the same dead ends as before. Thus,
what they mean by “starting anew” is rather just being granted another
attempt to try to succeed with the same methods, hoping that their luck
will finally jump in and take care of things, as if some almighty
external entity would direct the luck their way. Little wonder then that
such “new chances” are usually doomed to fail in the same manner as
their previous attempts. What they do is hardly ever putting things back
to zero and start something new as the saying would suggest.
Few
people ever dare to take that step forward and start all over again
from zero and to enter a blank sheet constellation all on their own.
Those who do or are forced to by external circumstances soon find that
they have to rely solely on their own abilities and resources and are
sometimes astonished to realize that they can accomplish much more than
they would have expected. The comfort zones that they had made
themselves at home in require little but sticking to the same old
routines. A zero point however, provides a considerable challenge and
testing ground for the skills and tactics you have acquired and thus
makes an ideal environment to learn and grow. Being plunged in at the
deep end inevitably forces you to adapt to the new environment rapidly.
In
essence, a zero point in itself opens doors to considerable advantages
by activating flexibility and the basic animal survival mechanisms that
rest deep within our genetic heritage, unnoticed by the dulled types of
routine-followers. The latter hardly ever experience the immediate
effects, like the sharpened perception or the instinctual
fight-or-flight reaction, that result from exposure to zero points like
being all of a sudden confronted with an existential hazard. Yet, these
situations are rare and zero points are certainly more likely to be
encountered in the form of a new living situation that requires a high
degree of adaptability.
But once thoroughly understood, it does
not necessarily have to take place in such an overt manner as relocating
to an entirely new environment with just a suitcase to benefit from it.
There are various manifestations of such zero points, some rather
hidden and subtle. Entering an entirely new field in the business world
or a longstanding relationship breaking up could be examples. In the
latter case, most people rush to cling to the next partner to instantly
fill the gap. Then you usually hear them state how lucky they are that
they do not have to be alone anymore. Personal progress derived from
this form of zero point could be the impulse to prove how well you can
do on your own first, taking full advantage of the benefits of
independence. From that point, the strong individual crafts his own
strategies of how to become more of the person that he wishes to be
which thus evokes more zero points. And as more and more of the mental
and emotional dead wood is thrown out, the way is free for even more
profound personal growth. It quickly turns into a never-ending
undertaking that can include any field you could possibly think of.
Yet,
constant self-optimization is not just one of the short-lived trends of
today’s zeitgeist, it runs like a golden thread through history and
culture. The Shakespearean tradition of play-writing distinguished two
different kinds of fictional characters, the flat and round ones. Very
much like in the real world, the flat characters are easily understood
and hence predictable, whereas the round types present complex and
multi-faceted personalities that sometimes even appear to have
contradictory traits at first glance. On closer inspection, these
supposed contradictions often turn out as the ability to exceed the
narrow confines of common conventions. In order to maximize his
potential, the round character has to constantly strive to improve his
many facets and skills like a sculptor obsessed with the idea of
creating this one perfect piece of art. Like Shakespeare himself, he
attempts to become an independent cosmos that knows no limits and is
capable of re-inventing himself anytime. Sharpening your personality
from different angles this way is the perfect approach to
self-perfection, adding whatever facets you choose. And it is probably
the closest you can get to the Renaissance ideal of the universal
genius.
Most exceptional leading figures in history, culture,
science or any other field of expertise one could think of stem from
this tradition, as do the movers and shakers of the lesser travelled
path in our days. Though often viewed as ahead of the times, they often
also have a firm understanding of the wisdom of past civilizations and
know perfectly well to maintain the balance. At its heart, these
individuals have a natural disposition that fundamentally sets them
apart from the herd of humanity and this is based on two major aspects.
The first one is the drive to constantly move forward and expand their
capacities by sustained learning through zero point after zero point.
The second one consists in the ability to regard and analyze situations
from a Third Side – perspective while resorting to previously learned
lessons to build on authentic experience. This is how the true achievers
conquer the ground between themselves and their goals. Starting anew by
always picking new challenges is the constant mode of action.
Prometheus
