Читать книгу Above and Beyond - J.S. Dorian - Страница 83

“Recall your courage, and lay aside sad fear.”

VIRGIL

It goes without saying, doesn’t it, that risk-taking no longer belongs in our lives? Risks are for healthy people who can still afford to put themselves on the line. These days we want to feel protected, not vulnerable; solid, not fragile; secure, not fearful. Now that we’re sick and frequently in pain, risk-taking is the last thing in the world we should expect of ourselves. Right?

Wrong. The reality is that certain risks are well worth taking and, in fact, can bring comfort and even more security to our lives. We stand to benefit greatly, for example, when we risk becoming more self-aware by exploring our feelings and reactions, by learning to identify and eliminate old ideas and character flaws, and by practicing meditation.

Risks can also bring rewards when we share our emotions and personal experiences with friends and loved ones—when, by risking intimacy, we allow others to know us at the truly important levels instead of merely the superficial ones.

For many of us, the most beneficial risk of all is the one we take by letting go and letting God.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Before I automatically say no, I’ll check the risk-reward ratio.