Spiritual Skills - Risk Taking

Risk Taking

Everyone takes risk, and psychologists even understand risk-taking behavior. We all appear to need some sensation seeking in our lives – at least the perception of risk taking. One study broke down risks into nine categories: physical, career, financial, social, intellectual, creative, relationship, emotional, and spiritual risks. Here are a few of the conclusions:

• People rate their overall risk taking behavior as relatively high, yet individuals rated their risk behaviors in the above areas over a wide range
• People are most comfortable taking intellectual risks and least comfortable taking financial risks
• Men are more willing to take physical risks than women
• Men and women rank equally in taking social and creative risks
• Willingness to take risks declines with age, particularly in men
• Men’s willingness to take risks declines dramatically with age; women become more willing to take risks with age
• Men are least comfortable taking relationship and emotional risks (no big surprise here!)

Scientists have isolated a risk gene and proven a high genetic correlation with risky behavior. Thus, risk is partially hereditary – you are more likely to engage in risky behavior if your ancestors did. That said, environment (and who you hang out with) can override either risky behavior or a reluctance to take risks. Some people that rate themselves as moderate risk takers actually lead unusually conservative lives.

One important attribute of risk taking involves ‘trust;’ trust in yourself, your capabilities, and your values and beliefs. We call this self-esteem. Inevitably, people with low self-esteem are low risk takers.

Why Is Risk Taking a Spiritual Skill?

Risk taking in a spiritual context deals with placing our trust in concepts that are unprovable or that we don’t fully understand. We even have related expressions that help express our feelings in the area, for instance, making a leap of faith.

Spiritual growth calls for stretching yourself outside of your comfort zone – taking a risk. Many of us, including those that take risks in other areas of our lives, seem unwilling to challenge the beliefs and assumptions about our spiritual natures.

Here are a few areas where some challenging spiritual thinking (risky thinking) can expand your mind

• Your model of the universe and how you fit in it
• Your relationship with God or your connection to source energy
• Belief that you have a spirit or soul that carries your essence after your death
• Beliefs about your purpose in this physical existence
• Perceptions about reality and your ability to shape your life
• Beliefs about how adaptable you are to change
• Trust in your models of the cosmos and your role
• Willingness to wallow in the paradoxes and confusing ethics that characterize spiritual exploration
• Willingness to become aware and awake
• Spiritual laws and whether they work

In an earlier essay, we discussed ‘memes,’ the cultural equivalent of genes that get passed down to us by our relatives and the society we grow and live in. If we live in a culture that treats divergent spiritual views with ridicule, intolerance, misunderstanding, and persecution, we quickly learn to rigidly hold on to a set of tenets about our religion or spirituality rather than face the adverse reaction of our peers. In other terms, we decide not to take risks by expanding our thinking about some of the fundamentals of our existence in this universe.

Rigid ‘group-think’ is apparently widespread. For centuries science has rarely transgressed into the area of religion or spirituality. There’s almost an unspoken conspiracy to not do scientific research in the spiritual theater. Moreover, you can test the reaction of people you meet by asking questions that challenge the status quo of western Christianity: for instance, the validity of the ‘Jesus Myth,’ or the way politics in the year 325 at the Council of Nicaea shaped what became modern religions.

When I start to explore new spiritual areas, I like to sense some internal discomfort. If my ‘Discomfort Meter’ starts to vibrate, I know I’m into something worthwhile. I’m taking a risk with my thinking – a risk that I might grow and develop in some new dimension. I might add that I look for my ‘Truth Meter’ to start vibrating as well when something makes sense or resonates.

I’ve come to believe that the greater risks involve metaphorically standing still. Thus, I believe that the greatest sin is the unlived life, or not following your bliss. Those activities involve getting our of your comfort zone – taking risks.

I want to be a ‘sensation seeker’ in the spiritual area. I want to break out of my comfort zone. I am not committed to standing still; I’m committed to exploration and new concepts or possibilities. My skin is in the game, but not about remaining in one place or one belief system.

What about self trust? Despite my vulnerability to the new, I trust I’ll survive. I learn from not only the agreement that I might find, but also the negative attacks or ridicule that comes if I share some of what I’m learning with others – others standing fast in their beliefs, memes, and values. Taking risks like this helps me grow and learn.

One belief I’ve developed in the past year or so is that spiritual growth and development is about my constant connection to source energy. The thinking, exploration, reading, and debating I do – the risk taking – brings that realization closer to me each day. Risk taking moves me to a higher vibrational plane, a level that enables me to better tap source energy.

Through reading and exploration, look at the alternatives to each of the bullet points above. For instance, what is the nature of the universe? How do you fit in that model? What alternatives are there? The landscape for exploration is not an easy one to trod. Many would have you stay on the paths they have established as the ‘right’ one. I encourage you to wander far from tradition.

So, do something daring today. Change your thinking. Change who you are. Change what you believe. Take a risk.

Namasté

This website is to stimulate your spiritual thinking in the hope that it will contribute to your spiritual growth. The author invites your comments and critiques by reply e-mail to bob@futuremoons.com.