At the bottom of every dilemma, he says, is fear, and the brain always prefers the bird in the hand to venturing into the bush, even if you are clutching a scrawny black crow.

Barbara Bradley Hagerty
At the bottom of every dilemma, he says, is fear,...
At the bottom of every dilemma, he says, is fear,...
At the bottom of every dilemma, he says, is fear,...
At the bottom of every dilemma, he says, is fear,...
About This Quote

This quote is by Will Rogers, one of America’s most famous humorists. It illustrates the idea that when faced with a difficult decision, people usually will go with what they already know rather than taking on more risk. The brain prefers to be safe rather than secure, and generally, it’s not wrong. But taken too far, this mindset can cause problems.

A philosophy professor at the University of Texas once said that "one of the greatest dangers in life is being satisfied with what you have." That's good advice in many situations. But there are times when being content with what you have can lead to complacency. If you are satisfied with your job, your relationship, or your life in general, you may not be making the most of it.

A lot of people are hesitant to take chances because they are afraid they might fail. The fact is that our brains are wired to seek safety over risk. We all want to avoid pain or failure in any way possible, which often results in unnecessary suffering.

When faced with a decision where you risk things for possible reward, hesitate to take action because taking that chance may result in failure or pain…you might end up with nothing in the end.

Source: Life Reimagined: The Science, Art, And Opportunity Of Midlife

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