An abundance of caution
Lawyers are fond of this.
And sometimes, parents are too.
At least you won’t get blamed if something goes wrong.
It turns out that we don’t need an abundance of caution. We need appropriate caution. They’re different things. Abundant caution is wasted.
Things like ripe avocados and morel mushrooms are terrific to have in abundance. By definition, though, abundant caution is not only more than we need, it’s more than is helpful. Because we get hooked on the feeling.
We can always make a risk ever smaller. But the cost is that we will increase other risks.
Please don’t avoid appropriate caution. It matters to you and to the community. But seeking reassurance and peace of mind by trying to drive risk to zero doesn’t get you either one of them.
Connection, possibility and forward motion are tools for resilience and a healthy life.