Balancing Safety and Risk

14May2020_cropped.jpg

In the world of self-development, safety has a bit of a bad reputation.

Brene Brown writes, “If you trade your authenticity for safety, you may experience the following: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, rage, blame, resentment, and inexplicable grief.”

It was even written about centuries ago by Rumi who said, “Forget safety. Live where you fear to live. Destroy your reputation. Be notorious.”  

These ideas of safety have been a source of inspiration for me as I dared to envision a different kind of life that I could create for myself and as I dared to pursue my creative dreams.

So, as I was doing a meditation to see what my heart needed, I was not very happy when I got the clear message that it deeply wanted to feel safe.  I checked in and, no, it was not my ego.  It was most definitely my heart that was asking for safety.

Perhaps safety is one of those “both and” concepts.  We both need to step out of our safe comfort zones to face fears in order to be authentic and we have a very human need to feel safe.  

I realized that my heart was asking me to take creative risks with some careful consideration as to which kind of risks I take. 

The things I create come from my heart.  They are like my children.  And I wouldn’t take children just anywhere.  I would always carefully consider the places we go, balancing their need to experience new things with their exposed tender spirits that still need guidance.

Am I going to stop living where I fear?  Am I going to “trade authenticity for safety”?  No. 

But I am going to consider how, where, and who a bit more as I deepen this practice of risking with tenderness and awareness.

Tell me, what are your thoughts on safety and risk?


Are you a creative dreamer? We have a place for you :)