In life and finances, we need to take risks if we are going to grow. The question is how much risk and furthermore, I believe the better question to ponder is what kind of lens are you viewing your perceived risk through. I’ve learned in life that I need to get into the center of the room and in order to do that I need to be perceiving the situation without any biases clouding my lens.

The Center of the Room

When I was learning to do a headstand, someone told me I’d never learned by practicing up against a wall. This particular instructor told me that I needed to get into the center of the room. So, I did.

I created a safe place in my family room away from all objects. I practiced and fell over many times.

Each time I fell I got back up. Additionally, I’d tweak something until I could finally keep my body balanced on my head confidently. Furthermore, I was strengthening my core daily with exercises that always make inversions more probable. Success in most things requires behind the scenes, not so glamorous work.

When I finally got it, I was ecstatic! I taught myself how to do something hard and I did by falling.

I recognized the value of the statement made to me about getting in the center of the room. We’ll never really learn until the training wheels are off, or the wall is not there. Part of the learning comes through the falling and failing. Falling doesn’t feel good, even if we’ve lined the room with pillows, and so we adjust and practice until we fall no more. The fall is the motivation to get it right.

Failing hurts our pride. As a result, we can choose to walk away or continue to figure out the best path to success. Failing teaches us how not to do something.

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