Schroedinger’s Cat got your tongue? Open that box. Take the leap.
It’s the big moment. Time to reveal that big project. Or time to finally go out and apply what you’ve learned. Or time to finally enjoy what you’ve been working so hard for.
But despite the excitement and the pride and the relief that should take the spotlight in this moment, there’s something that makes us take pause.
When we’re hanging in the balance, just before discovering what’s on the other side of risk and action, it can be tempting to stay there.
It’s like a veil lying between the now and the future, and it can be terrifying to lift that veil. Because even though there’s great potential on the other side of it, there’s also the chance that it’s not at all what you expected. That it’s a disappointment. A failure. A full-on trainwreck.
Until we take those risky moves, everything is just a potentiality. That means we haven’t failed, so it can be tempting to stay in that safety. Although…
“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” -John Shedd
So sure, we could just leave that box closed and never know if Schroedinger’s cat is alive or dead. We could just hold onto the knowledge that things may be wonderful on the other side, without ever actually finding out if they are.
But if we remain behind the veil, that also means we can’t ever know if we’ll succeed. Is that any way to live? No, not us, with all our beautiful, messy, extraordinary potential. We’re not meant for limbo.
We’re meant to go out and seek greatness, even though — especially though — we may fail. Because with each failure comes knowledge. And with knowledge is greater fuel for meaningful action.
We must be willing to dream. To explore. To put ourselves out there into vulnerable spaces. That is how we grow and connect and make meaning out of life.
So go on, open up that box. See what’s on the other side of that veil. Take that potentiality and discover what it can be. Whatever lies beyond, your ship was meant to sail beyond safe harbors.
