To me, "Batman Begins" is a masterpiece. The origin story is always the most interesting part of sagas like this. But BB had something else going for it as well, a powerful theme woven through every aspect of the story.
That theme in a word?
Fear
Bruce Wayne’s story demonstrates the two extremes of fear.
On one hand, we see how it can hold us captive, trap us emotionally, and fester in our psyche to the point of rage. But, the narrative also demonstrates how if faced, we can channel our fears to create intense power capable of changing every aspect of our lives.
Think about the moment when Bruce first enters the cave and allows the bats to swarm him. Initially, he has the same reaction he had hallucinating during his training in the mountains. But then something happens, a the throwing of a switch in his brain. Bruce drops his hands from his face and stands perfectly still, as if he is letting the fear literally pass through him.
THIS is where Batman begins. Bruce does more than simply face his fear. He embraces it, turning it from his greatest liability to his greatest strength.
So the question for the day is this:
How much more powerful would we be if we targeted our specific fears and purposely faced them?
And I mean face it in the EXTREME.
Let me give you a few examples of suggestions I've given my clients to help them overcome their fears.
Fear of heights? Check out the new glass bottom observatory in the Sears Tower.
Fear of flying? Buy a ticket to the next closest city and turn around immediately to come back.
Fear of combat? Taking a boxing class or martial art.
Fear of spiders or snakes? Go to the zoo, and check out the creepy crawly room.
And when I suggest these solutions, I don't mean a one-time confrontation. The point is to take action repeatedly until the fear is gone.
Surprisingly, in talking with my clients about their greatest fears, none of the ones from the list above take the top spot. What fear trumps them all?
Fear of Approaching Women It’s all about that terrifying fear of rejection, the intense emotional outcome of a wrong word or gesture.
Still, the potential for success hovers just out of reach beckoning us to make a choice. Do we allow the approach anxiety to control us or do we embrace it, turn it into power and use it to take action?
Your Assignment Should You Choose to Accept It Is… Get into the field.
Hunt down the closest “fear dojo” you can find.
What is a fear dojo?
It’s the local gym with daily aerobics or spinning classes.
It’s the bookstore, the night club, the supermarket or coffee shop.
In other words, places that large numbers of women congregate.
The only exception to this rule is a screening of the "Sex In the City" movie. Don’t do that to yourself, man. Just DON’T.
In any case, once you’ve scoped the location, pick a target and get to work. Simply walk up to the girl and introduce yourself.
Now, I’m sure you’re thinking that sounds pretty easy. Just do it to get it over with and move on, right?
WRONG. You’re not going to do it just once.
What are we looking at here? Try ten, twenty, or even thirty times.
Bottom line, your goal will be to do it as many times as it takes to kill your inner fear of making an approach.
And no wussing out either.
When you pick out the girl to approach, start with the one that, in your mind, is the most drop dead gorgeous woman in the entire place.
Pick the one that intimidates the hell out of you. Walk up with confidence, meet her glance and don’t break it.
Then say the following.
“I don’t mean to interrupt you. But I saw you from across the room and really had no choice but to come over here and introduce myself.”
When she asks why, you respond with brutal honesty.
“Well, first, this is NOT a pickup line. It’s just that, to me, you’re gorgeous to the point of being intimidating, and an hour ago, I would have let keep me from doing anything about it. But I can’t let my fears control me anymore. So, here I am. Then, introduce yourself.
Next…see where things lead and have fun.
Tips For the Field – Mind Frames Some key points to keep in mind here are:
1. Don’t focus on the outcome of any one interaction.
2. Don’t alter your approach based on the previous encounter.
3. Remember, whether the woman is friendly or not doesn’t matter.
The fact that you’re TAKING ACTION IS
Tips For the Field – On Taking Action 1. Take a few deep breaths before each approach to calm yourself.
2. Relax your muscles.
3. Walk slowly.
4. Once you’ve made eye contact DON’T break it.
P.S. I would never ask anyone to do anything that I haven’t done myself. So, yes, I did this exercise too.
My outcome?
I went to work the next day in the same clothes I wore the day before.
Enough said?