"To escape from prison, what's the first thing you need to know?"
While wondering why I have asked this question, you might come up with questions about the prison layout, guard shifts, or inmate schedules. And, while these answers are not wrong, they miss a crucial point.
The most insightful answer to the question is, "That I am in prison."
What prisons might you be in?
It is common to have a desire to escape—from an exhausting job, a difficult boss, or a routine or overly challenging relationship. It’s a desire worth examining.
"The difficulty lies, not in the new ideas, but in escaping from the old ones, which ramify, for those brought up as most of us have been, into every corner of our minds."
— John Maynard Keynes, 1935
Most organisational structures and systems have not changed substantially in over a century. Immersed in these organisations, it’s easy to overlook the limitations they impose—that is, until the yearning to escape becomes strong. Then, when we can’t run away, escape can take the form of putting in the minimum amount of effort to keep our job, but not going the extra mile, being distracted by personal or side projects, daydreaming, office gossip, excessive use of social media and the internet. Overcommitment, overwhelm, and burnout loom.
Personal Reflections
There’s an upside to thoughts of escape when you think of it as an internal alarm system. In the same way that getting a headache has me think about my level of hydration, stress, or the quality of my sleep, wanting to "escape" is an alarm alerting me that there are deeper issues requiring my attention.
Gardening in a Forest of Ancient Trees
When I feel like avoiding, distracting myself or running away, I’ve found the idea of ‘gardening in a forest of old trees’ helpful. The very old trees represent my deeply held beliefs and ways of doing things. These old trees stand tall, they have deep roots. However, they block out new ideas, making it hard to see the big picture and for new ideas to take hold. To get through this tough terrain, I look for a balance between holding on to the wisdom of the old trees that have stood the test of time and being brave enough to make room for new ideas by carefully cutting back on old trees (ideas) that aren't useful to me anymore. Think of it as conservation and innovation working together.
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