Essential Growth

 

I’ve recently realized how big of a problem I have with the idea of “security”.  Obviously I want to be protected from criminals, looters, and the likes with whatever blanket is necessary to achieve the goal.  However, I don’t want my security blanket to be so robust that I feel comfortable with it: if I lose my overall sense of fear I’ll become lethargic.  Fear is one of my key motivators in life. 

But on the other end of the spectrum there is no reason why I should fear death, illness, unfair scrutiny, or being incapable of providing for myself.  I need a certain level of security, otherwise I will be unable to focus on some of the “bigger picture” items that I need to focus on.

There is a balance that needs to be achieved—a loose balance that is intrinsically kinetic and can adjust to items that attempt to tip the scale.  Fear is only a good thing when it causes growth, and safety is only a bad thing when it hinders growth.  Therefore my scale needs to have one goal, one conceptual item it needs to preserve, growth.

I think this applies to all spectrums of my life. 

There is no reason for me to have six months worth of my expenditures in savings when my expenditures are based solely on my present income and I have virtually zero assets… but I should have a fear about increasing future income.

I shouldn’t have to lock the door of a safe in a locked home, in a gated condominium, in a low crime city… but I should worry about the quality of the lock to my home.

I shouldn’t have eight rotating passwords online when the information stored behind all eight is identical with identical encryption and security systems… but I should worry about the amount information that I am willing to share with online security systems.

Online security is such a good example of this dumb, empty fear.  People are willing to share practically anything to a company with a banner, promise, and logo.   How many online companies have you given your home address to when they didn’t need it?  How many physical retail stores have you shared the information with?

Fear something until you’ve grown past it enough to provide your own security don’t have someone else do it for you—you’ll only end up cheating yourself.