The Danger of Playing it Safe

Written by Editor in Chief, Pick The Brain - 6 Comments
Categories: motivation

It’s human nature to avoid risk. We don’t want to embarrass ourselves. We don’t want to diminish our credibility. So we stay near the center. We censor our words and disguise our true thoughts.

Besides, who are we to tell other people they’re wrong? How can we really be sure of ourselves?

We can’t. But we have to risk being wrong if we ever want to really be right. This quote from John Irving explains why. His example deals with writing, but it applies to any creative endeavor.

If you don’t feel that you are possibly on the edge of humiliating yourself, of losing control of the whole thing, then probably what you are doing isn’t very vital. If you don’t feel like you are writing somewhat over your head, why do it? If you don’t have some doubt of your authority to tell this story, then you are not trying to tell enough.

Thanks to Screw You! for the quote.

  • http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog Steven Aitchison

    Hi John, I think this is a good point and has been said many times in many ways but is worth re-iterating.

    We are here on this earth for around 70 years, on average. The first 25 years or so we are finding ourselves, the last 25 years we are trying to play catchup on the things we wished we had done so that leaves 20 years to go for it, not much time is it!

  • bob

    Jong Irving is so right about this point

  • http://www.zomboscloset.com Iloz Zoc

    John Irving’s quote is now on a sticky attached to my laptop. Excellent.

  • http://www.bradsbits.com/ Brad

    Great quote.

    Steve — I’m 25 and I think on the verge of having ‘found myself’….guess my 20 years starts now!

  • http://www.pickthebrain.com John Wesley

    Finding myself is something I’ve definitely been wrestling with for a while. It’s tough to know when you’ve, if ever, you finally get there. I think this blog, and sharing my thoughts with others, has really helped though.

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