Taking Risks

During the deadly coronavirus pandemic have you noticed how people, including TV presenters, close with phrases such as “keep safe” or “take care”, or some other encouragement to avoid taking risks? Fair enough, I suppose, when we are at war with an unseen enemy which takes no prisoners and will attack anyone without scruple, especially the vulnerable, should they let down their guard.

There are, however, unwelcome by-products of this safety-first strategy ( which is close to becoming a life-style): It becomes a way of thinking; It isolates us from each other – we call it Lockdown; It engenders suspicion and defensiveness; It often creates anxiety and fear. Now fear is part of our psychological DNA, helping us to avoid situations that could cause us pain, injury, loss or even death. Fear exists to keep us safe. But if you don’t face up to your personal fears they can end up owning you. Facing up to the reality of what frightens you is essential in order to reclaim the power it has over you. In order to overcome a fear, we have to admit that we have it in the first place. And there is no known formula that will liberate us from fear.

Our imagination, which can be so creatively positive is also capable of turning shadows into monsters. We can develop the tendency to imagine the worst case scenario in almost any situation, fuelling our apprehensions and fears. This process can prevent us from doing anything outside of our comfort zone. Facing up to our fears, as opposed to avoiding them, ignoring them or running away from them is essential if we are to move forward and grow into that braver, better version of ourself. Controlling your fears opens up the way to the improved you, much less prone to entrapment.

I remember as a 14 year-old, singing solo on the platform in school assembly on two occasions. It was quite scary beforehand, but once I’d done it I felt rather proud of myself. It was a kind of achievement. Just to put it in context, I had a decent voice, but nothing outstanding. I can’t remember why I wanted to do it: Maybe I was a bit of a performer? But I still saw it as an achievement. I had to take the risk of making a mess of it or being laughed at, especially by the boys of my own age. But I’d seen someone else do a solo several years before and I thought, I could do that.

Giving fear a name is helpful: It’s an emotion, but its not a reality; it’s not you! Actually playing safe can be a high risk approach. The fear of failure, or being laughed at is quite real. But playing safe can lead to regrets which cannot be remedied later in life. I recall the challenge I faced, because of what a member of college staff said during enrolment to the next level of a part-time engineering course I planned to take. He said, “You could go full-time with the results you obtained last year”. It prompted me to investigate the prospect of “full-time” education, at the age of 25.

I had left school at 15 and all of my subsequent learning had been on a part-time basis. I discovered I could do a Higher National Diploma or even a Degree Course. The prospect scared me, so I decided to do a Higher National Certificate (2-years part-time) first. Then I went for the Degree , at the age of 27. This required me to resign a secure job with good prospects to go to University. I just felt I had to go as far as I could academically. I graduated at the age of 30 with a BSc Hons (2.2). I was never particularly good at school and, on leaving, I served a craft apprenticeship for 5 years (from aged 16-21 in those days). When I graduated with a Degree I thought, Wow! It was way beyond what I ever thought was possible.

The Australian author Margie Warrell, who writes for Success Magazine, quotes this “powerful lesson of life: Growth and comfort can’t ride the same horse”. I second that. I was always scared of exams; the fear of failure I suppose. But, with God’s help, I road it and it proved worth the ride.