The False Ceiling

A false ceiling, as I call it, is the limit or barrier that one mentally sets. It is false because it actually do not exist; it is imaginary and is the hindrance in to one’s progress or performnace. I believe therefore I am. It would be more agreeable if the line went: I am told so I believe and therefore I am.

Looking back at the networks model, we can see that our identities are defined by what was enforced upon us. And since we have allowed ourselves to be enforced, so the self is also partly responsible.
Similarly, what we can (Potential/Possibility) is also defined by the environment (network nodes around) and the self. And since this is a ‘can’, the ‘can’ limit is only virtual.

Though false and artificial, these ceilings have an origin and a reason to exist. But the situation ends up as in the baby-elephant syndrome . The ceilings were built on:

1. Fear : one’s past experiences, particularly failures
2. Mental blocks and disinterest
3. Bars and limits set by surrounding nodes. This can be done quite indirectly

‘I am not good in mathematics’ is a common statement by many. This translates to one such false ceiling. The liner acts like a post-it remainder slip whenever the associated person come anywhere near calculations. And it is no surprise that this person would end up with repeated failures in related situations. Programmed to fail as per JM and rackets as per the forum. The correction here would be to mentally tear off this slip; trying to understand mathematics and being comfortable with it. Knowledge empowers.

‘I haven’t done this before’ is yet another statement which creates a common but unnecessary ceiling that avoids the challenged from kick starting one’s static thought circuitry. ‘Nobody does it this way’ is another such statement which translates to the ceiling: ‘I can’t do it’. But if one is a goal oriented person then this liner shouldn't be bothering you.

The examples above are of type 2 and 1. Type 3 ceilings are set by groups and communities. They can be set by the closest members in the family themselves, like ‘You are sickly, don’t overexert’. And likewise, by the neighborhood, by the religious community, by the nation and so on.

Again, confined, trapped, caged.