For many, time distills motivation and risk. It’s as though, with age, we tend to avoid things that cause discomfort or carry the risk of failure. While life without challenge and movement might be calmer, we know that people who constantly learn, improve, and grow are the happiest.
When I watch my three youngest grandchild girls, I marvel at their fearlessness. Without hesitation, they’ll try just about anything. Whether it’s jumping into the pool, giving an impromptu performance, or climbing the play gym at the park, it’s all an adventure for them. Temporary trepidation gives way to outstretched arms, lifting them upward or spinning them around, giggling in sheer delight, or fearlessly searching for the scary monster lurking behind the door or curtains during a game of hide-and-seek.
Alas! If only we could maintain that childhood fearlessness. I often wonder what leads us to avoid the new and the unknown, or to take risks that seem too scary, even when there’s nothing to fear. Could it be that as children, we didn’t care what other people thought – until we felt the sting of pain that comes with being judged? Or did we fail and decide we weren’t good enough or smart enough to take more risks? Maybe we were hurt and made a limiting decision to never go down that path again.
No matter how scary risks may seem, we can choose to continually embrace them. When we challenge ourselves, we continue to expand and grow. Life is exhilarating and never boring. We remain fluid, teachable, and emotionally limber. We are free of limiting thoughts, so we can soar.
What are the things you fantasize about doing but find too scary? Are you willing to find your inner child and embrace that dream? The biggest risk of all is admitting what you want to do, then grabbing hold of it and not letting go. Are you ready to be a little kid again?
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Donna Marks is an educator, licensed psychotherapist, and addictions counselor in Palm Beach, Florida. She has worked with over 6,000 clients. Donna’s struggle with addiction brought her to a worldwide search for healing. She became licensed as a Mental Health Counselor in 1987. In 1989, she earned a Doctorate Degree in Adult Education, then became Certified in Addictions, Gestalt Therapy, Psychoanalysis, Hypnosis, and Sex Therapy. Donna developed an award-winning addiction training program at Palm Beach Community College. She co-owns an outpatient treatment program and serves as a consultant to treatment centers. For 36 years, she has taught A Course in Miracles.
Donna is the author of three books: the multi-award-winning title Exit the Maze: One Addiction, One Cause, One Cure, and Learn, Grow, Forgive: A Path to Spiritual Success, The Healing Moment: Seven Paths to Turn Messes into Miracles of Love, and her latest fiction, Fortis & Sapiente – A Tale of Two Lovers Who Successfully Navigate the Murky Waters of Love. Donna is a public speaker and has shared her methods with millions of listeners on podcasts and radio shows.
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