Storytime…

If your childhood was anything like mine entertainment-wise, you will definitely be familiar with the catchphrase that serves as the title of this post. It is commonly associated with the popular wrestling shows that graced our screens (I think they’re still in production).

Growing up, I used to be a big fan of the game and I was heartbroken when I found out it was all scripted. I had invested so much emotion for it not to be real. In fact, I argued that it had to be real for a while in a bid to justify my attachment to the game, as well as safeguard myself from an imminent heartbreak. Eventually, the truth dawned on me and I had to swallow the bitter pill… I already had my favourites at the time — the likes of John Cena and Rey Mysterio — and I had also made some enemies.

It was pleasurable while they still had me hooked, but one question always came to mind whenever that line came up on the screen. I always wondered why they wouldn’t want me to try something that seemed so intriguing. Why exactly shouldn’t I try it?… “Staying safe” just didn’t seem enough a reason to deprive me of experiencing firsthand the bliss I got from watching my faves leave the ring victorious — after all, they all came back again and again for more. It didn’t seem fair giving me a piece of advice they weren’t taking.

Again, if your childhood was anything like mine, you most definitely ignored the advice and converted your bedroom to a makeshift wrestling ring where you combated your siblings when your parents weren’t home. Of course, not without some injuries from time to time, but we were willing to trade some pain for all that “fun”. (The good ol’ days!)

In retrospect, such transactions happened more frequently in my childhood and gradually faded out as I grew older and I am sure most can relate to this. There seems to be increasing consciousness of danger and a decreasing ‘risk-it-for-the-biscuit’ attitude towards life and its issues as we transit from childhood to adulthood. It seems as though we become more mentally attached to our pain and failures and take all the (un)necessary precautions to shield ourselves from those. We are quick to strap our “safety belts” at the inkling of prospective danger. We always want to keep to the safe lane… But at what cost?

The innate desire for more.

From personal experiences and interpersonal interactions, I have come to realize that almost everyone (if not everyone), consciously or subconsciously, has an innate desire to birth something of significance and make an impact. It is inbuilt in the human framework. The area of interest differs from person to person, but every person has a dream buried deep within that yearns for expression… But as much as we desire to bring those dreams to reality, the path to achieving this is usually rough and sometimes we are required to tread uncharted territories to arrive at our dream destinations. Therein lies the dilemma.

Your choice…

Generally, in most cases, life presents us with two options. One, trade-in your huge dream, stay in the safe lane, tread where others have treaded, and be “comfortable” or… Two, throw all caution to the wind, strip off that safety belt, and pursue that which you desire at all cost. We get to decide which course we ply.

We all know the more common of the two. It is easier to mute the dream and relish in our comfort zones than to go all in without a guarantee of success. Sounds like the more logical thing to do. And it is very much enough for some. There are others though, who aren’t satisfied in their comfort zones and long for something bigger but are too careful to take the required risks. I want to believe I fall in this category (this is more like a note to self. Lol).

DARE TO DO

The saying “no risk, no reward” stands true in most situations, and tales of people realizing their dreams while playing it safe are the exceptions rather than the rule. So the ability to reignite those childlike instincts that had us running towards danger, as long as there was a prospective reward, instead of running away from it might just be the difference between those that do achieve their dreams and those who trade the feeling of fulfillment for comfort.

Let me quickly put a balance here by adding that some people are handicapped by circumstances beyond their control in the pursuit of their dreams by different factors, and irrespective of their willingness to go for what they want, they just cannot find a way around it. I wish I had the solution to this category, but I don’t think I do and I am not going to pretend to have all the answers. Life operates in a very unpredictable format.

I am rather referring to those who have the means at their disposal but are scared to take the plunge due to uncertainty of the future and fear of the unknown. Safety is overrated! It is better to fail at your pursuit of fulfillment and have a chance at achieving your heart desire than let your dream rut inside of you. Let the uncertainty fuel your pursuit. The fact that your borders are undefined leaves room for extraordinary success and as long as you have your mind fixed on the goal and your outlook positive, you will be surprised how much you achieve along the way. 

One step at a time…

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step”.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Focus on the steps closest to you and not the entire staircase. With every step, your vision stretches further and the path becomes clearer. Okay, I am not trying to be a motivational speaker or anything of the sort — although, I am of the opinion that they don’t deserve all the backlash — but you get the point. Lol.

In the end,  you have nothing to lose by giving your dream a shot. If things eventually go south, you can always reroute yourself. On the contrary, ditching your dream for fear of the unknown, as safe as it may seem, might cost you the ultimate fulfillment you desire. The choice is yours.

DON’T STAY SAFE! TRY THAT…