Watch this scene from Batman: The Dark Knight Rises.
Bruce Wayne is trapped in an underground prison. There is a way out involving a perilous climb to the sunlight above. He, like others, has tried to reach the sunlight but failed. The objective failed, but his life was saved by being attached to a rope.
In the history of the prison, there is a story of a single child that was successful. But the child had no rope. The dialogue with another prisoner goes like this:
“You do not fear death. Think it makes you strong. Makes you weak.”
“Why?”
“How can you go faster than possible? Fight longer than possible? Without the most powerful impules of the spirit? The fear of death.”
“I do fear death. I fear dying in here while my city burns.”
“Then make the climb.”
“How?”
“As the child did. Without the rope. Then fear will find you again.”
I think that to make something out of nothing, we need everything we have to give. Hedging makes us slow and heavy while we over-think possible scenarios. I’d rather imagine the myself holding that step and jumping.
For me and my work at Pollenizer, I’m gonna do it. I’m scared quite frequently, but I don’t need a rope.