Paths and Boundaries
Question: Do predetermined pathways dictate – or inhibit growth? Can they do both? Neither? What do you think?
Something I saw the other day made me think about these and a few related questions for a bit (which probably explains that gosh-awful noise you’ve been hearing lately).
On the Grid
Located right next to of one of my favorite local beaneries (Café Express in The Woodlands), there’s this geometric metal grid. It’s nothing special; merely an array of black-painted, square metal rods mounted on a wall. The building’s surface behind it is slightly bowed, causing shifting shadows from the afternoon sun to create a subtly-changing pattern within the rigid, perpendicular lines.
A vine, just beginning its quest for world domination, grows along the bars – first geysering vertically upward, then slithering horizontally outward. Its delicate, questing tips flow in a continuous snakelike spiral around the metal rods, seeking their boundaries as all living organisms tend to do.
Have you ever watched a climbing vine take over a trellis? As a pastime, it’s about as exciting as watching your hair grow, I’ll tell ya. But still… vines are ‘waaaay more interesting.
They initially follow paths created by the structural members of the trellis itself. You’ll see little questing tendrils twining ‘round the bars, always heading upward and outward. In short order they thicken, and leaves appear along the strands. Occasionally a new stem pops out, going in yet another direction, all of ‘em racing away from the center of growth like an exploding green star – in slow-motion, of course.
Back at the heart of the mass of greenery, where the most mature growth is, you’ll eventually see the vines and leaves thicken until they begin to extend outside the directions initially dictated by the trellis itself. Soon, given time and the right conditions, there’ll be nothing visible of the framework that may (or may not) still hold the whole shebang upright.
Fruit of the Vine
C’mon, show of hands: Whenever you encounter limitations or boundaries – or have your pathways dictated for you – don’t you tend to become prone to the three R’s: Rant, Rave & Resist? But (and here’s the $64,295,176 question) then what do you do?
After wracking my brain for a few minutes (sound of brain, being wracked) I came up with several possible responses – fruit, if you will, of this particular vine of thought:
Stop – We can simply come to a stop, forgoing further growth in that particular direction. Is this a valid choice? Well, the answer is a most definite, “It depends.” Often we glibly forge ahead as if boundaries don’t matter. But sometimes it’s appropriate to stop going in a certain direction, isn’t it? Only you can determine if (or when) that point is reached, of course. Hey, all I’m sayin’ is, limits aren’t necessarily a bad thing; they may turn out to be a point beyond which it is not good to pass! (The edge of a 1,000-foot cliff comes to mind…) But is coming to a halt and growing no more the best choice?
Turn Back – You could, of course, turn around and go back. I mean, now that you’ve found your boundary, why try to go beyond it, anyway? After all, there’s plenty to seek and understand – and even explore – within the core of your own universe, right? Besides, there’s a certain vigor to be gained in growing bigger and stronger “within the core”, if you get my meanin’. But there’s an inherent danger of becoming “ingrown” if we turn back upon ourselves.
Change Direction – Just because you’ve hit a wall doesn’t mean you can’t keep growing. After all, there’s plenty of other directions you can choose other than going back the way you came. By fully exploring the boundary, you just may find a way around it. That’s how most people cross a river, by exploring in both directions until they find the best way, right? Nothing wrong with that. Besides, it’s still a new and unexplored path, filled with opportunity.
Upon further reflection (yet more grinding), there’s yet another choice, wouldn’t ya say?
Bust Through – There are certainly times when the right choice really is to bust right through that ol’ barrier and just keep on goin’. After all, human history is filled with great examples of that one. I mean, where would innovation and invention be if “beyond this point there be dragons” were the absolute last word on anything?
Ya Pays Yer Money and Ya Makes Yer Choices
Now, having carefully built the trellis and delineated the boundaries of choice for you here, it sorta begs yet another couple of questions, doesn’t it?
Let’s say you’ve encountered a limitation of some kind lately. (I know; it never happens to you. If that’s the case – pretend.) Now, which of the four options did you choose and – and perhaps more importantly – why?
OR… is there yet another option I failed to mention?
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Photos:
Geometric Growth 1, by Robert Hruzek
Spiral, by Robert Hruzek
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20 responses so far
Middle Zone Musings is a comfortable place to stop, have a cup of coffee, swap a few stories and share practical ideas for the real world. I don't ask for much, just a bit of your brain every now and then. Have a seat, take a load off, and relax...
Robert, something you’ve overlooked? My answer comes from The Matrix:
Oracle: I’d ask you to sit down, but, you’re not going to anyway. And don’t worry about the vase.
Neo: What vase?
[Neo turns to look for a vase, and as he does, he knocks over a vase of flowers, which shatters on the floor]
Oracle: That vase.
Neo: I’m sorry…
Oracle: I said don’t worry about it. I’ll get one of my kids to fix it.
Neo: How did you know?
Oracle: Ohh, what’s really going to bake your noodle later on is, would you still have broken it if I hadn’t said anything?
Have a great weekend!
geoffrey philps last blog post..World Book and Copyright Day (2009)
Yet another interesting article, Robert.
I think in some way this links to something I read while away at a friend’s house the past week or so: “Way of the Superior Man” by David Deida (a darn good book, I might add). In it, he speaks about living to your boundaries to enable you to break through them to allow further growth (along with other stuff as well, of coure.
I would also agree with you that certain boundaries are indeed a good thing, but sometimes they are simply a stumbling block to our own progression, and as such should perhaps be broken through.
In respect to predetermined paths, for example when in the workplace, I believe one can walk that path without necessarily keeping perfectly on the ’straight and narrow’ (or wide and bendy). For example, when I was selling software, processes were in place that didn’t really coincide with how I, and my brain, works. So, I simply utilised those processes to work how _I_ wanted them to. Often to the chagrin of my boss, haha. But, the methods I used worked rather well. So, I guess that would be taking another direction perhaps?
As for today: Though not done yet, today is grocery shopping day for me. Which, unfortunately means people. Suffering from social anxiety, it’s a real effort to go into a shop full of people. Of course, though, I’ve no real choice but to burst through that particular boundary if I want to eat.
Matt
Great positive reinforcement. Some of these ideas need to be brought up regularly to remind us that when we are up against a wall or maxing out our potential, you always have options to further succeed in all areas of life.
I get the feeling if I never run up against a boundary then I’m not really going anywhere. Sometimes its nice to follow a predetermined path if only to pick up speed for when you plan to break off. As far as which tactic – really depends on what I’m up against. No reason to slam into wall that can be leapt or walked around. And realizing that you have reached a dead end always calls for retracing your steps at least for a while. Great post Robert. Keeps me thinking.
Fred H Schlegels last blog post..Physics and Ideation: Creativity and Mismatched Socks
@Geoffrey – Man, what a great answer! ‘Course, I have no idea what it means, but any reference to The Matrix has gotta be a winner!
@Matt – Yeah, some boundaries just scream out for us to challenge ‘em, Matt.
@Joel – Totally agree, Bubba; we humans tend to thrive on challenge. Even when a boundary is an actual stopping point, there’s always a new direction to try, right?
@Fred – Hey, thanks for lettin’ me niggle your noodle today!
Okay, then here’s another–”there is no spoon.”
In other words, the trellis, the boundaries, etc. all exist within the matrix of our minds.
The question then becomes, would we have grown in the same way if the dragons, “Agent Smith” et al had not come into our lives?
Would we have “busted through” or broken the vase, the trellis, etc.
Peace,
Geoffrey
Geoffrey Philps last blog post..World Book and Copyright Day (2009)
@Geoffrey – Sorta like the Hawthorne Effect, eh? In a way, it’s completely true, of course. As ol’ Nietzsche used to say, “Whatever doesn’t destroy us makes us stronger”? ‘Course, he’s dead now…
Chances are that vine is going to take over that grid even though you won’t be able to sip an expresso and watch it happen. I’m for busting through…slowly but surely.
Terros last blog post..The Livin’ Is Easy on the Truckee River
Vines know no boundaries. They seem to have an unwavering mission of exploring and covering all available territories. If I were a vine plant, I’d cover the big-holed nylon screen that we put over the pathway from the gate to the front door. But how can I enjoy the shade if I were the plant? I think I’ll just plant a vine along each posts so that their crawling tips will meet at the middle fast. Thanks for letting me comment here, bubba
Robert,
Terro’s comment reminds me of rivers changing their ways – slowly the water seeks other ways. In Germany we have a saying that goes “Silent waters erode the stone”. Don’t try to bust through the boundaries, but keep on nibbling at them, and then – you’re through!
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..Django Reinhardt
@Terro – Yep; I’m the type that usually won’t take “no” sittin’ down, y’know? Gotta figure a way to bust on through. But there’s much to be said for turning aside and exploring other options, too.
@Rose – Howdy, and welcome to the Middle Zone, Rose! Hey, drop by and comment any time, why don’cha?
@Ulla – Where brute force won’t work, the use of slow and steady force can usually find its way through. Too true, and great point, Ulla!
Robert, what’s the point the vine has to be crawled as high as possible? Yep, it main goal is to absorb the sunlight and doing the photosynthesis stuff! The truth is, our life also just like this small vine, as we all trying to be the best as possible, either to prove it to ourselves or to other people…
Well, when it comes to a chance, there’s might be 50% of possibility to fail. However, if you didn’t take on the chance and give it a try, then you’ll be a 100% loser for sure!
Robert,
Forging on through the unknown and be a pretty scary path sometimes. But busting through!!!! How glorious is that when we finally reach that point?
Boundaries are critical.
It definitely takes courage to see it through.
@Jeffrey – You’re right, it does take courage to go beyond the boundaries. Some will, some won’t; what’s your path?
Robert, you made me think about your huge sentence:
“Just because you’ve hit a wall doesn’t mean you can’t keep growing”
This is so true! I know a lot of people who when they hit a wall, they just stand there and literally rotting, while waiting for someone who would help them. Eventually.
And the following sentence reminds me of my mom:
“After all, there’s plenty of other directions you can choose other than going back the way you came”
Everytime we went on a trip, we`ve never came back the same direction. Of course, sometimes we`ve lost for an hour (or five), but that way we`ve seen so many things! Today I practice the mom`s approach anywhere, even if I go just on a bus station – I pick a different direction