There’s a phrase that’s been making the rounds since COVID that rubs me the wrong way. Maybe you’ve heard it:
Out of an abundance of caution…
Really? An abundance of caution? Not just a rational amount of caution? An appropriate amount of caution? Is being way too cautious a virtue now?
I must first admit that there are some professions that this phrase makes sense for. Anesthetists comes to mind, as does parachute packers. My daughter Julia just called out, “How about the people who do up the harnesses for bungee jumpers?” Great point. So, there are some.
But for the rest of us. being too cautious is not a virtue. Instead, why not start talking about an abundance of courage?
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.” President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Courage is the foundational virtue. Without the inner resolve to act on what you believe to be right, your other values won’t see the light of day. No one can see your intentions. They can only judge you by your actions. Can you deviate from the herd when you know inside that you should? Most people can’t.
Courage is the virtue to work on.
So please stop exercising an abundance of caution, and start embracing an abundance of bravery.
Fortune favors the brave!
Getting ahead is about getting started,
