| In her recent book, Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, shared some experiences from our coaching work. She recalls me suggesting that “understanding and honoring our fears is instrumental to acts of risk-taking and leadership” and describes a role play where we spoke with her Inner Risk Manager. How can you upgrade your relationship with the part of you that is always scanning for risks, dangers, and threats? When I converse with someone’s inner risk manager in a role play, I always find myself thanking that part of the person. I can tell how much vigilance it has taken to keep the person safe all these years, and, for most, how that has been a thankless task. People believe their fears—their inner risk managers—have been holding them back, making them hesitate when they wanted to leap into the unknown, or dragging them down with warnings about what could go wrong when they only wanted to be positive. Dismissed from conscious dialogue, the part of us that looks out for risks, dangers and threats, resort to less healthy methods to keep us safe. Slowing us down through doubt, paranoia, or physical symptoms. I have found countless times that the person is better served by having more engagement with their inner risk manager, not less. When invited, this part of us will help us take better risks more skillfully. You might want to take a moment to thank your inner risk manager for keeping you safe all these years and consciously invite him or her to play a more direct part in your life. I think you will find you are the better for it. You can get Sukhinder’s beautifully written book, Choose Possibility, here. It is the best guide out there to the entrepreneur’s journey. Additionally, there is an Inner Risk Manager process that’s extremely helpful in the Numina Transformation Retreat, available here. |
David Lesser
Founder & CEO