Today I stumbled across this poem: http://www.heartnsouls.com/stories/k/s1013.shtml
When I read it, it was un-credited. I was curious about who wrote it so I did a little research, and found that at least four authors (including "anonymous" and "unknown") were given credit by different sources for penning the verse. I guess the fact that it survives without a clear consensus about who's responsible is a testament to it's enduring value.
It hit me pretty squarely because I've been thinking a lot about the difference between perceived risk and actual risk lately, and how easily we can get the two confused. If you believe that living a good life is defined by hurting as few people and being hurt as infrequently as possible, you may feel that risk is something to avoid. Certainly risk can be associated with failure, which can be devastating. But failure can also be looked at another way. You can't fail at anything without learning something about your growth capacity. And we make mistakes - we're supposed to - but they're also the most valuable experiences from which to learn. Is it possible that avoiding risk is the biggest mistake of all?
I'm now more than halfway between 40 and 50 years old. Like many of you, I've done my best but would do many things differently given the wisdom I've acquired since I made those mistakes. But looking back, I realize the main reason I see things differently now is precisely because of what I learned from taking risks.
Maybe there's something in your life that presents one of the biggest risks you've ever taken. Maybe the indecision is paralyzing you. It might be the idea of finally finding out what kind of physical condition you're really in, and then putting yourself in the uncomfortable and unfamiliar position of testing and breaking through those limitations. Or it may be something else.
Consider carefully where the real risk lies. If it requires integrity, dignity, honoring your true self, and most of all, courage, chances are that's the risk you need to take.
It hit me pretty squarely because I've been thinking a lot about the difference between perceived risk and actual risk lately, and how easily we can get the two confused. If you believe that living a good life is defined by hurting as few people and being hurt as infrequently as possible, you may feel that risk is something to avoid. Certainly risk can be associated with failure, which can be devastating. But failure can also be looked at another way. You can't fail at anything without learning something about your growth capacity. And we make mistakes - we're supposed to - but they're also the most valuable experiences from which to learn. Is it possible that avoiding risk is the biggest mistake of all?
I'm now more than halfway between 40 and 50 years old. Like many of you, I've done my best but would do many things differently given the wisdom I've acquired since I made those mistakes. But looking back, I realize the main reason I see things differently now is precisely because of what I learned from taking risks.
Maybe there's something in your life that presents one of the biggest risks you've ever taken. Maybe the indecision is paralyzing you. It might be the idea of finally finding out what kind of physical condition you're really in, and then putting yourself in the uncomfortable and unfamiliar position of testing and breaking through those limitations. Or it may be something else.
Consider carefully where the real risk lies. If it requires integrity, dignity, honoring your true self, and most of all, courage, chances are that's the risk you need to take.
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