Recently, I witnessed one of my peers in school taking his phone from a teacher's desk. I know it doesn't seem that significant, but the look on his face while the teacher's back was turned... It scared me. And the feverent second glances he kept taking at the teacher scared me even more. Well, maybe they didn't scare me, but they definitely made me think twice. My curiosity was stimulated. I wondered what propelled him to do that. Is it really hard to have some integrity and adhere to the teacher's policies?
I'm not putting myself on a high horse, either. I'm 15 -- of course I've gotten my phone taken away in classes and had a parent come get it after-hours. But the difference between our situations is that I didn't try to take my phone back without permission. I took responsibility for my actions.
What did he think would happen? Did he think my instructor would just forget about it once he realized it was gone? I don't really know what happened when he was called back into the classroom after the last bell rang, and quite frankly, I don't care that much. The thing I can't get out of my mind is the look on his face as he snatched it and whipped around.
Where in his thought process was he able to rationalize taking his phone back? There's no way I'll ever know the true answer to this question. Chances are, neither will he... I think when we want something bad enough, impulse and instinct take over. My classmate wanted his phone, so he disregarded any kind of possible consequence and just went for it. Impulse and instinct are two of the most raw human capabilities.
Think about it.
Many of you are probably athletes or participate in competitive activities. How many times have you disregarded logical thinking and just done something on the field or the court? Afterwards, when you come back into your own, it's like, "Whoa, where did that come from?" It's not just with sports, either. Imagine that you're a painter and you suddenly get this burst of inspiration and you can't stop. You won't stop mixing, blending, stroking -- until that piece is finished. Take a dancer, for example: There comes a point in a certain routine or piece when you just completely let go. You just let your body move, flow, and twirl. It knows exactly what to do. That isn't just a lucky strike -- the natural impulse set free.
It's powerful.
You natural impulses are set free. What if, deep in your subconscious, you know exactly what it is you want to do and accomplish? What if the only thing that stands in your way are the various barriers and limitations placed around your mind by either yourself or the people around you? Maybe this raw intense instinct or impulse comes out only when we're doing something we're completely passionate about. Maybe your subconscious knows exactly what it is that you want to do; what you're good at. That thing in which your creative impulses feel comfortable flowing freely through... I think I may be on to something.