Risk, Regret, and the Shrinking Cage
Make your choice, adventurous stranger;
strike the bell and bide the danger,
or wonder, till it drives you mad,
what would have followed if you had.
(Inscription in the garden)C. S. Lewis, The Magician’s Nephew
As I stepped into the bright light, I looked for a dragon to slay or a wall to run through.
Conan the Barbarian left me longing for my own epic.
I wanted to do something important, something challenging.
There’s something inside us that seeks adventure.
For much of human history, survival itself was a feat.
Our ancestors needed courage and ingenuity just to survive the day.
Yet, we’ve become so safe and comfortable that we get our thrill vicariously through stories.
The narrative shows us what an adventure looks like:
· There is risk.
Often, there is physical risk, but there is always the risk of failure.
· There is challenge.
The hero faces a difficult task.
· There is uncertainty.
The future cannot be predicted.
· There is excitement.
Each small victory produces a rush.
· There is growth.
The hero becomes a much different person by the end of the story.
These stories inspire us, but that inspiration fades.
We need our own quest.
But things get in the way.
· We are reluctant to invest the time and money.
· We are afraid of embarrassment.
· We are held back by an irrational fear.
· We want to eliminate the uncertainty before starting.
Some of my biggest regrets are the opportunities I didn’t take and the adventures I didn’t pursue.
Conversely, some of my most rewarding memories are from when I took the risk to follow a dream.
Society conditions us to stay within our comfort zone and avoid mistakes.
But mistakes teach us some of the most valuable lessons.
And comfort zones do not stay the same. If they are not expanding, they are shrinking.
Not all adventures lead to fame and fortune.
Some may even appear to be boring to outsiders.
We don’t need to travel into space to find an adventure.
There are few pursuits more challenging and rewarding than being a parent.
Teachers, carpenters, and nurses have the opportunity to change the world.
Life is filled with possibility — grab your sword, your hammer, your tool of choice and craft your own saga.
Out now on Amazon: The Courageous Heart: Wisdom for Difficult Times, an Eric Hoffer Award Finalist. Grab your copy today.
