Last Saturday we had a really interesting Enneagram day at Turvey Abbey during which two members of our group presented a session about risk. It really got me thinking and I’d love to know what you make of it.
But what is risk? If I love public speaking and you fear it, then it’s far less risky for me. If you’re a stunt man and I tend to twist my ankle out walking, then I’d be a bit mad to try this sort of thing.
We talked about our approach to five kinds of risk, and the extent to which we Avoid, Decline, Accept, Embrace or Seek risk under each of the following headings:
- Financial
- Spiritual
- Emotional
- Social
- Physical
It was really helpful for me to consider it under those discrete headings. I’ve sometimes thought I’m not very brave, but it turns out I embrace or seek financial and spiritual risk. I avoid physical risk and accept emotional and social risk.
One of the most interesting discussions that cropped up was what happens as we get older. Some people said they had become distinctly more cautious with age. I can understand that with physical and financial difficulties, but generally I think it’s a shame, and I don’t really get it. Do we want to slip into old age without causing any ripples? I’ve found that I’ve been able to dare more emotionally as I’ve got older, in terms of friendship and exposing emotions. There’s a way to go, but when I was younger, I was completely shut down emotionally, so I’m heading in the right direction.
Another aspect of this that’s interesting is that much-loved business concept of risk management. It sounds sensible, doesn’t it? But we can over-manage the risks we are prepared to take. I’m reminded of that saying ‘leap, and the net will appear’.
What about you? Where do you embrace risk? Where do you avoid it?
Image by jb london
Elsewhere:
Travel feels risky for some folks, but my friend Marian Van Eyk McCain thrives on it. She and her lovely husband are just back from five weeks in Sicily. You can find her travel journal and fabulous photos here. It makes me feel as if I was there.
And as Christians all over the world are journeying through the spiritually risky time of Holy Week, Jan Richardson reminds us of the free-fall feeling of allowing blessings into our lives. Who knows what uncomfortable changes they may challenge us to make?
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Interesting that you post about this. I do take risks, but for the wrong reasons. Thank you for sharing. Blessings.
Hi Just Be Real, welcome to my blog and thanks for the comment. Yes I think this whole risk thing is many-layered and many-reasoned.
Hi, Tess. I’m rather similar to you — I accept and/or embrace emotional, social and spiritual risk. I don’t think I’d be fully alive, and fully able to contribute to the world around me, if I were risk-averse in these areas.
On the physical side, I used to enjoy whitewater rafting in my 30′s, thought it was fantastic. But the last time I went (at age 48) I hated it. It felt far too risky, even though it was the same level of rapids I’d loved earlier. So I agree that age changes our experience of physical risk.
Good post, Tess, and a pleasure to discover your blog.
Alison, thanks very much for your comment, and welcome to this space. I must say I do regret (I’m now 57) not doing more physically risky things when I was younger. Whitewater rafting sounds simultaneously thrilling and terrifying!
I’ve actually started taking more risks physically the last few years (although I’m not sure everyone would qualify what I do as “risky”). I think I’m also taking more risks emotionally, which is scary, but it’s definitely opened up my world.
Living life fully is about doing the wash while your heart is breaking. To love is the greatest risk, but even if it fails, even that agony of rejection, is worth the depth giving yourself over to another brings to every level of existence.
Oh, it is feels so good to find a post here!
I will have to think about this. I am not sure at all of where I take risks and where I don’t. What calls my attention is your reference to aging and taking fewer risks then.
The most inspiring people i have seen are pilgrims in their 70s and 80s on the Camino to Santiago. I felt then that Life is wide open till the end
Easter blessings!
Amy, yes emotional risk is the big one for me too, but it does indeed open the world.
Tenar, what you say about doing the wash while your heart is breaking reminds me of Oriah Mountain Dreamer’s poem The Invitation. I’m reading that book at the moment.
Claire, thank you for this inspiring image of your pilgrims. Life can indeed be wide open till the end, but I think sometimes we shut down.
The biggest risk I have ever taken was entering a monastery. Many people tried to warn me against it. I was so smitten with monastic life that i just couldn’t hear them – I’m really glad that I didn’t take any notice.
Miriam, I’m glad you didn’t take any notice either!
Just caught up with this post (haven’t looked at my RSS feed for nearly a week). Thanks for linking to my trip report, Tess.
Risk, what a great topic. I like the way you’ve separated out the different types of risk-taking. Thinking about it, I realize that as I get older I get bolder in many ways and much more willing to take risks. Yet at the same time I am also kinder to myself than I used to be. So I no longer force myself to do things I don’t enjoy, just to prove that I can. Thus the balance probably stays the same overall, but the details are different.