Why Do We Stumble and Sometimes Fall?

In the movie Batman Begins, Bruce Wayne’s father asks him this question as a little boy when he falls down into a well. Of course the answer he gives is a good one – “So we can learn how to pick ourselves up.” Like all other truth in life the truth to the answer of this question varies depending upon the level you view it from.

Let me explain. If you only see it at the surface level the answer is plain and simple – because there was something in our path that we didn’t notice or account for. From a slightly higher perspective where we should have noticed the tripping stone the answer might be – because we were not paying enough attention or were distracted. Moving a little higher still we may begin to understand as Batman did that tripping and falling teaches us to pick ourselves up.

From a much higher point of view what we will ultimately see is that those tripping stones were placed in our path by ourselves to make sure we would wake up from our unconscious slumber. Imagine you are sleepwalking at night and find yourself in your car about to drive right through your closed garage door. This could be very dangerous. The best thing that could happen is that you bump into a wall, door, or trip over something on the floor and stumble just enough to wake up and realize where you are and where you’re headed.

This is the concept behind the first chapter of my book Escape the Cubicle: Unleash the Hero Within. The chapter title is “Sleepwalkers Awaken!  The Call to Adventure”. If you have experienced some frustration from your job or career, which has you asking the question, “Why is this happening to me?” Especially if it is a recurring pattern in your career or professional life, then listen to the message it is sending to you. WAKE UP! This path you are presently on will not bring you the happiness you seek.

I went through six different jobs in my professional field before I woke up to the notion that corporate America was simply not my calling. I finally followed my passion and went after my dream life. While it is still unfolding and developing, it has become crystal clear to me that this is why I came here into this world. To serve this purpose of showing others how they too can Escape the Cubicle and live the life they were meant to!