Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Chicken Effect

I have been reading The Medici Effect for the last two days. This book is one of those that makes me want to go out and change my way of living in a snap. But I never do anything about the ideas that circle my brain. Sadly, after I close any "life-changing" book, I just go on with my normal ways. I don't even bother to stop and write down my ideas.


I don't know if I lack the attention span or the will but somehow there are a lot of ideas implanted on my head that remain that -- ideas, dreams, visions. I just never do anything about the things I say I will do 50% of the time. Maybe it is because 50% of the time, I am afraid of failing. So ultimately, I make choices that make "more sense." But if I allowed myself to dig deeper into why I made those choices, it was because I was just one big chicken. :)


However, the remaining 50% where I took the risk and succeeded or failed, I felt so much better, more alive and a lot wiser. The pain of "failing" does sting but it is the kind of sting that heals after a few beers, good company, loads of movies and time. :)


After experiences of failure, I have always found that new opportunities spring up. Maybe it's because people realize I exist or maybe it's because of luck. I would like to believe though that it was because after risking and failing, I became more bold in exploring new opportunities. Everything does happen for a reason. It just takes time for reason to overtake your emotions. :) Oh as an added bonus of risking, I always sound so wise in front of my friends. Haha! :)


The victory brought upon by taking that risk feels so much better than predictable success. What good is that kind of success? Predictable success does add extra glitter to my name. However, it does not add anything to my character. If anything, it makes me feel listless and empty.


The scar etched on me by my lack of courage and lack of trust in my capacity to get over failure, can never really be forgotten. Ironically, I forget the times I failed but I always remember the times I did not try.


So, now I am ready to take more risks. In fact, I will start now. :) For at the risk of sounding like an ageing grandma (hehe), I would like to tell you that life will always feel half-lived until you have taken those risks you were always meant to take. :)

Posted by Erica Cleofe at 22:30

4 comments:

  1. Blogger Annika on November 03, 2006 4:00 PM

    Not much to add to that. Sadly enough I feel the better part of this world is just one big chicken farm.
    How can we help everyone get past this poultry phase?

    Annika

  2. Blogger ali on November 04, 2006 7:20 AM

    When I was a member back in my LC in Jakarta, I decided to run directly as LCP, then I said to my romanian friend,Cristian Hossu (was an intern there), "wish me luck man!".

    Then he said one thing that I will never forget forever, "I don't want to wish you luck! I wish you will face a lot of problems that will make you frustrated. But I also wish that you can overcome and learn from it. So I will just wish you for the best"

    ...and I did.
    And I think that's also the beauty of taking risks in life.

    with smile,
    ali

  3. Blogger Caro on November 06, 2006 4:57 PM

    all the words you said - it's so true for me as well!

    It's about time for me to also take some risks and not resign just because of the fear of failure...

    hugs from Malta,
    Caro

  4. Blogger Erica Cleofe on November 07, 2006 6:59 PM

    Hey Caro,

    Go take the risk. :)

    Cheers,
    Erica

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