“…life is not a stable process. Stability is for trees. For us, life is a process of risk and recovery. Each step we take is a risk. Our ability to recover is our greatest quality. “
Moshe Feldenkrais
Taking risks means daring to try new approaches or ideas with no predictable control over results or consequences, i.e. taking action when the outcome is unknown.
Here’s the scary part: going somewhere new is risky.
Trying a new way of thinking or moving is risky.
Here’s the good part: it’s usually not as risky as we think it is going to be.
In fact, it could be fun and often leads to further adventures.
What differentiates us from every other creature is that we willingly and frequently go places we’ve not gone before.
We approach life open to discovery, surprise, and the risk of exploration.
However when we get to a certain level of development most of us begin to coast.
As adults we find ways of thinking and doing that work for us.
Ways that are usually productive, efficient and practical.
Then we repeat those patterns again and again. We end up being restricted in everything we do.
We stop exploring and taking risks and what is more important we find ourselves capable of doing only those things that we already know.
Our brains either slow down or stop forming new connections altogether.
Eventually with no significant change, our lives become habitual and we begin to deteriorate in the ways we think, move and feel.
When we try something new or take a risk, we often feel uncomfortable, fearful, and insecure about making mistakes.
That is natural, but it’s not natural to stop there, even though most times we do. As we age we stop even sooner.
There is nothing wrong with making a few mistakes – or many.
In fact, that’s how we learn what not to do.
NB Remember the last newsletter with the research about trial and error learning being the most effective for us as we age
If we continue, there’s a (high) chance that we’ll overcome our fear and get to a place of confidence, knowledge and a faith in our abilities.
So let’s move into life and explore new ways to think and take action.
“If you’re not making mistakes, you’re not taking risks, and that means you’re not going anywhere “
John W. Holt Jr
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