Fear

It's a perfectly natural response to...anything. But when it comes to fearing the future, things get especially complicated. Do you take a risk and then take things as they come? Or do you just leave things be and play it safe?

Case I - Take a risk, because the only things you regret in life are the risks you never took.

So you plunge in. You say, yeah, I know I'm probably going to get hurt...but this is what I want, and I'm going to try anyway. Two outcomes -

Perfect scenario - Things work out. You get what you want, things work out eventually despite a rough road, and everybody's happy.

Worst case - Things don't work out, either in the beginning, or towards the end. You end up disappointed, life feels like hell.

So I'm thinking... So what if things don't work out? At least you've given it a shot...sure, life will be hell for a while afterward, but things will look up again, right? (Someone with the optimism gene please continue this...I don't do optimism.)

Case II - Play it safe, because it's better to be safe than hurt in the future.

So you leave things the way they are. Life feels like crap, but you're glad that you know that what you feared won't happen.

Perfect scenario - Things work out. Something else comes along, and life starts to look better.

Worst case - You wake up 7 years down the line and look at your life, and think, "What if I had given it a shot?" ...and you won't know, because it's just too late.

So I'm thinking... I don't know which is worse...playing it safe and spending everyday hoping for something better to come along, or playing it safe and then waking up in another 7 years wishing for a time machine.

The solution?

Go ahead and take the plunge while being prepared for the worst? Or play it safe and pray to every supernatural being you know?

That is the question(s).