Walking out of the theatre after watching Inception on Monday morning (best Monday ever!), I wish I had spent more than the paltry Rs. 100 on the ticket. Christopher Nolan deserves more from me as an audience member. More so, for the valuable personal epiphany.
Inception is a brilliant example of a very simple seed of an idea - can a thought be implanted in a person's subconscious mind?
I realised that any of us could have come up with that idea! Before I raise the hackles of Nolan fans, let me elaborate.
Each of us comes up with the makings of at least 3 brilliant ideas a year. We're talking about those ideas that would radically alter (for the better) our areas of influence and impact a lot of people (for the better). But they're still wisps of ideas at this first stage.
The trouble is, with an idea of that magnitude, we envision BIG hurdles. And the biggest hurdles are those in the mind, even before a single step has been taken in the direction. Pursuing those ideas will demand our stretching ourselves, taking leaps of faith and seemingly, jump off the deep end with no resources to fall back on.
Do we pursue even one of those ideas?
Why do we shy away from our potential however daunting that may seem, to pursue something we're passionate about in the first place?
There seems to be a very real self-sabotaging element in the form of our belief systems and insecurities. In other words - those who've seen the movie will relate to this - we have to make peace with the specter of Mal (Marion Cotillard) who exists in Cobb's (Leo DiCaprio) sub-conscious mind sabotaging his every effort.
A sense of trepidation kicks in and we misread it as fear. We panic and opt-out.
"I don't have the skill to pursue such a big idea or a big project."
"This project will require a lot of money which I don't have."
"I don't have the time."
"What if I realise as I go along, that this idea is not as brilliant as I thought it was? How stupid would I look?"
In short - "If I don't aspire, I will not fail."
The trepidation is very real and fortunately it comes with the territory of doing something bigger than usual. Something like the butterflies in one's stomach before giving a speech in public.
If we had to achieve the kind of mastery that someone like Nolan has achieved in his field of influence - cinema - we have to push forth out of our comfort zones (read insecurities), nudge things into place, inspire people to champion our idea and trust that the resources will fall in line.
Christopher Nolan's genius is not only in a brilliant what-if, but in the actual pursuing of that wisp of an idea and diligently crafting it to life over however long it took him. The result is there for all to see - a complex yet simple, real yet fantastic cinematic experience.
"This project will require a lot of money which I don't have."
"I don't have the time."
"What if I realise as I go along, that this idea is not as brilliant as I thought it was? How stupid would I look?"
In short - "If I don't aspire, I will not fail."
The trepidation is very real and fortunately it comes with the territory of doing something bigger than usual. Something like the butterflies in one's stomach before giving a speech in public.
If we had to achieve the kind of mastery that someone like Nolan has achieved in his field of influence - cinema - we have to push forth out of our comfort zones (read insecurities), nudge things into place, inspire people to champion our idea and trust that the resources will fall in line.
Christopher Nolan's genius is not only in a brilliant what-if, but in the actual pursuing of that wisp of an idea and diligently crafting it to life over however long it took him. The result is there for all to see - a complex yet simple, real yet fantastic cinematic experience.
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