Why Taking Risks Is Essential to Growth and Freedom

Let me tell you something about nature.

Nature never allows you to fall

on your face if you take risks.

Never. It goes like this:

If you laugh, you

risk appearing to be a fool.

If you weep,

you risk appearing to be sentimental.

If you reach out for another,

you risk rejection.

If you love, you risk

not being loved in return.

If you place your

dreams in front of the crowd,

as we do, you risk ridicule. If you go

forward in the face

of overwhelming

odds, you risk failure.

But risk must be taken,

for the greatest hazard in life is to risk

nothing.

The person who risks nothing, has

nothing, does nothing, is

nothing. That person

may avoid suffering pain

and embarrassment, but

that individual will not learn, grow,

feel, love, or change. Only the

person who takes

risks is truly free.