This is a line that I’ve heard many times as a response to risk taking; why I shouldn’t do something. The more and more I think about it, I feel like this is borderline gaslighting yourself into overactive self preservation.
Whether it be take a risk starting a business, going into a new city or country, or even overpacking on top of overpacking for a trip, there isn’t acknowledgment that we can zero out risk. We certainly can do our best to minimize it.
Instead, many let fear and insecurity is drive, not your authentic self. Working with the imagination in your head, rather than being grounded in the world. I am sure you can think of a million reasons why the dream you have won’t succeed, or how you’ll hurt yourself if you attempt the task before you. Yet, in an effort to preserve life, you actually just stop living. Stop interacting and connecting with the world. Live in a bubble where inside the fortress is safe, and everything outside is mayhem.
This eventually leads to self fulfilling prophecy where everything and every strange noise triggers danger and your fight and flight. (Neuroregulation). Do you recognize this in yourself?
The irony of being taught about “stranger danger”, yet, how did we make friends? How do we build community? How do we trust random strangers when we get into their cars or they deliver out food via Uber?
An example would be solo traveling; something many people I know aspire to do. Is it dangerous? Yes, there is some component. Should I tell people not to do it? Absolutely not. I recognize that I come from privilege; especially since I don’t have nearly the number of worries about danger if I were a small woman. Still, wouldn’t tell her to give up her dreams because of perceived ‘danger’. I would tell her to extra prepare and risk minimize in an effort to chase her dreams.
At the end of the day, there is plenty you do know, and even more you don’t know. You certainly should spend time doing risk mitigation, but you shouldn’t let you get in the way of you.