“The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you’ll ever look” – Julius Caesar: 75BC
Monday, November 1st, 2010
Performance development, starts with knowing who you are and many religious texts talk about “Know Thyself” as being key to personal fulfilment. This philosophy goes on to explain that if you know yourself with real clarity, it’s possible to achieve what you want by determining the associated elements and establishing a plan.
Much of this is explained in my e-book ‘Optimise Personal Performance’ that can be downloaded for free from our website.
So why talk about this now?
Have you watched the film ‘Revolver’?
I was browsing my Facebook friends profiles (as you do) and one of them had Revolver first on their list of favourite films which, knowing the person, I could relate to why they would want to watch it (Guy Ritchie : Jason Statham : Ray Liotta : dark, gritty) but I also thought that there must be more to it than just that so I checked it out.
Talk about deep! OK it is definitely dark, gritty and violent with the main plot line being all about Statham’s character wanting revenge on Liotta but the film is really complicated and very philosophical. In short, it’s all about understanding yourself and your Ego.
One way of considering the ‘Ego’ is the consciousness of your own identity that manifests itself as the little voice you have inside your head that gives a running commentary about what is going on and keeps you safe, guiding you through life etc. The ego does its best to keep us safe so that we don’t harm ourselves physically and psychologically and that’s a real positive. It’s always with us to protect us and help us make the ‘right’ decision, however, the right decision will be in accordance with what it wants not necessarily as to what might be the best thing to do.
Hence one of the core lines of the film;
“The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you’ll ever look” – Julius Caesar: 75BC
Of course the greatest enemy you will ever have is that little voice that stops you doing things that you know are great ideas. Things you know will help you to achieve your goals.
To achieve our goals we have to grow, learn and stretch ourselves outside of comfort zone. Challenge is a natural part of enabling ourselves to better than we were yesterday but that little voice is always there warning us of the dangers and reminding us of the safe places we can stay.
The ego, is not always serving our best interests.
Another significant line from the film.
“The only way to get smarter is to play a smarter opponent” – Fundamentals of Chess 1883
The smartest opponent you will ever play is that little voice. If you are aware you are in the game and, if you are aware of the Self that you are then you can play that opponent and you can become better through knowing yourself much more significantly and, much more deeply. Becoming aware of that little voice so that you are able to monitor it constantly.
You CAN do the right thing, not just the thing that the little voice says you should be doing.
Performance development, starts with knowing who you are and many religious texts talk about “Know Thyself” as being key to personal fulfilment. This philosophy goes on to explain that if you know yourself with real clarity, it’s possible to achieve what you want by determining the associated elements and establishing a plan
Much of this is explained in my e-book ‘Optimise Personal Performance’ that can be downloaded for free from our website.
So why talk about this now?
Have you watched the film ‘Revolver’?
I was browsing my Facebook friends profiles (as you do) and one of them had Revolver first on their list of favourite films which, knowing the person, I could relate to why they would want to watch it (Guy Ritchie : Jason Statham : Ray Liotta : dark, gritty) but I also thought that there must be more to it than just that so I checked it out.
Talk about deep! OK it is definitely dark, gritty and violent with the main plot line being all about Statham’s character wanting revenge on Liotta but the film is really complicated and very philosophical. In short, it’s all about understanding yourself and your Ego.
One way of considering the ‘Ego’ is the consciousness of your own identity that manifests itself as the little voice you have inside your head that gives a running commentary about what is going on and keeps you safe, guiding you through life etc. The ego does its best to keep us safe so that we don’t harm ourselves physically and psychologically and that’s a real positive. It’s always with us to protect us and help us make the ‘right’ decision, however, the right decision will be in accordance with what it wants not necessarily as to what might be the best thing to do.
Hence one of the core lines of the film
“The greatest enemy will hide in the last place you’ll ever look – Julius Caesar: 75BC
Of course the greatest enemy you will ever have is that little voice that stops you doing things that you know are great ideas. Things you know will help you to achieve your goals.
To achieve our goals we have to grow, learn and stretch ourselves outside of comfort zone. Challenge is a natural part of enabling ourselves to better than we were yesterday but that little voice is always there warning us of the dangers and reminding us of the safe places we can stay.
The ego, is not always serving our best interests.
Another significant line from the film.
“The only way to get smarter is to play a smarter opponent” – Fundamentals of Chess 1883
The smartest opponent you will ever play is that little voice. If you are aware you are in the game and, if you are aware of the Self that you are then you can play that opponent and you can become better through knowing yourself much more significantly and, much more deeply. Becoming aware of that little voice so that you are able to monitor it constantly.
You CAN do the right thing, not just the thing that the little voice says you should be doing.
