Locked Door Syndrome

Today, I want to discuss the "locked door syndrome." I often see this condition preventing many from taking that leap or simply trying to open the door. I will start with a story.

One Sunday morning I decided to go to the office. Upon arrival, I found the biometric facial recognition machine turned off and unresponsive. Normally, you show your face, it recognizes you, and the door unlocks. Since the system was down, you would assume the door would not open, I instinctively pushed the door and it was not locked - the whole arrangement was fail-open. The system was down, so it did not hold the door in a locked position. I entered and went to work in my office.

A few hours later, I needed the bathroom and discovered a group outside the main door. They asked how I got in. I told them I simply pushed the door open. They didn't believe me, prompting a call to security. The disbelief escalated to the point where they called the building manager on a Sunday, all questioning me further. Despite my repeated explanation, they remained skeptical, even reviewing camera footage to verify my claim.

They were all standing outside the door, assuming it was locked without even trying to push it open. Then they questioned me as if I had done something wrong. This perfectly illustrates "locked door syndrome"—we assume doors are locked, we vilify those who open them, and we believe it requires extraordinary power, when the real barrier is in our minds. We convince ourselves the door is locked, so we never even attempt to push it open.

Imagine the doors you could walk through today with just a little effort. "Locked door syndrome" is a mental block, it is all in your mind. There is a saying:

Not all closed doors are locked

What I have found is that, many doors are not locked at all, in fact most of them are just waiting for you to take the initiative to swing them open.

Dealing with locked door syndrome

The truth is, even with this understanding, many of us will still find ourselves like those people outside the door, hesitating, unable to push it open. The mental block is so formidable that even with awareness of its presence, it continues to dominate. But how can we overcome this persistent barrier?

1. Embrace Risk-Taking: Often, the biggest rewards come from the biggest risks. Don’t wait for certainty—embrace the possibility of success by taking more chances.
2. Adopt a Proactive Mindset: Instead of deliberating endlessly, adopt Nike's slogan: Just do it. Action often dispels fears and builds confidence more than idle planning.
3. Visualize Success: Imagine achieving what you desire. Visualization is a powerful motivator and can provide the mental blueprint needed to realize your goals.
4. Initiate Action: Whether it’s making a crucial phone call or reaching out to a potential mentor, take that first step. Action creates momentum, and once you start, you may find the path easier than anticipated.