Playing it safe. There are times in our life when playing it safe is the wisest thing to do. Like, for instance, avoiding the all-you-can-eat chili bar the night before your colonoscopy. Good call on that one!
And then there are other times when playing it safe is the worst thing to do. I know because I’ve been there, done that and bought the t-shirt! I remember one such time in college when a few people suggest that I run for student body president. Instead of pursuing it, I quickly declined because I knew it would involve public speaking and this was WAY out of my comfort zone. And there was no way that I was voluntarily going to subject myself to that. I thought, “what kind of idiot would do that to himself? I’ll take my life jacket and arm floaties and stay in the shallow end of the pool, thank you very much!”
It wasn’t long after this that the safety of my comfort zone wasn’t looking as great as I once thought. I started thinking about what ‘could have been’ and regretted giving up so easily. I didn’t have much of a chance of winning the election, but I wish that I hadn’t made the decision out of fear. I wish that I had tried, that I had faced my fearand said, “I don’t need this life jacket, and you can keep your arm floaties because I’m going to the deep end of the pool!”
I’m convinced that when we retreat to the shallow end of the pool we miss out on the opportunity to grow. We also make it easier to run away the next time we’re faced with a growth opportunity.
Have you ever done something that you were afraid of and after felt so invigorated, so alive? Are you searching for more of this in your life? Or maybe you’re tired of playing it safe and you’re curious about what you could accomplish if fear didn’t stand in your way. Either way, I’d like to share more of my experiences to encourage you to venture out into the deep end of the pool and realize the potential that’s within you!
(I’ll share more very soon!)
Okay Larry is modest, the truth is he would have won the election in a landslide. He has always been a great people person. Plus, LW if people didn’t like you, you could have played the “brain surgery” card.
I would have to say that Dad and I always played it safe when the children were young and we teach them by modeling so obviously they were paying attention.
Life has taught me that taking a risk makes me feel alive. The first few times are the hardest and scariest but I found that at my age I just don’t care what others think or say. At least thats what I tell myself.
If I only felt this way when I was younger I wonder what I could have accomplished, and where my family would be now.