A quote from Helen Keller hit a nerve with me, "Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."
How many of us can say we are truly leading adventurous lives? We all have our own interpretation/definition for adventurous, but it still gets down to the same basic idea. Are we pushing ourselves to grow both personally and professionally?
In the book, Play to Win, the authors raise the issue of "surviving versus thriving." They make the point that "many of us are just surviving our lives, thinking that we are doing what we're suppose to do. We think we're okay — but we're not truly thriving in our one-and-only great adventure." Of course, the great adventure they are referencing is the life we live.
In order to live lives that are thriving, as opposed to surviving, we must be willing to push ourselves to constantly grow. This means we must be willing to try new things, look at the world around us in different ways, and open our hearts and minds to new ideas.
To be willing to thrive takes commitment and a lot of hard work. The payoff for that hard work is something that does not have a price tag. As leaders, parents, and human beings, we owe it to ourselves and those around us to constantly grow.
We have the gift of free will, and wouldn't we all like to be thriving in our greatest adventure — our lives!
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
