Be crazy enough to want more

I live a long way from the ocean! So I’ve never been crab fishing.

What I’ve read, however, is that the first crab you catch will crawl out of the bucket if he’s alone. But two crabs (or more) will never escape from a bucket. Why is this?

The crabs in the bucket will pull any other crab back if it tries to escape.

Your friends and family expect you to stay in your bucket

Do you want to change? Want to do something different? Want a better life? A more exciting life? A crazy adventure?

You’ll have to fight to change!

You have three forces working to keep you in your bucket: the system, your people, and your brain.

1. Resistance is futile! You will be assimilated.

“The System” is set up to make you conform, follow the rules, color inside the lines and do what you’re told. From an early age, you learn to give the right answers. You learn how to conform to fit in.

You’re a threat to “The System” if you’re a free thinker, divergent or a non-conformist.

You love stories of the hero who fights “The System” and wins. But remember that heroes always get their asses kicked before they ever win.

2. Your friends and family love you just like you are.

And they’ll pull out all the stops to keep you just like you are! They mean well, for the most part. Here are two noble reasons (and one not so noble) they want to keep you in your bucket.

•  They’re afraid to lose you. If you change, you might get new ideas, habits, or beliefs they don’t like.
•  They’re afraid you’ll be hurt. Your tribe wants security for everyone. This includes you. “Stay here and be safe! You could fall off the edge of the world or be eaten by sea serpents.”
• They’re afraid you’ll be better. The Norwegian social law of Jante goes like this: “You shall not think you can teach us anything or be better than us.” Your success might threaten your friends and family. They might be thinking of their own failures and missed opportunities.

3. Your brain tells you not to be crazy.

Statistics say you have 70% tendency to agree with the group, even when you know your opinion is right and they are wrong.

You’re primed to think the group “knows better.” Your brain tells you you’re crazy when you stand alone against a group.

Make a break for the rim of the bucket!

You’re going to feel claws grabbing your back when you try to make a change in your life. You have to be a little bit crazy to keep going.

But you will whither and die if you stay in your bucket. You may feel that cold fear even now. “IS THIS ALL THERE IS TO LIFE?” you ask yourself.

Whether you want to be an entrepreneur, get a new job, write a book, travel or go on some exotic adventure, don’t let fear and peer pressure keep you trapped. You can do it! Make your break for freedom!

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