"The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us and are silent when we should speak, in that moment the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls." Elizabeth Cady Stanton (1815 - 1902)

I like this quote from E.C. Stanton, which challenges us to be truthful and open. It is all too easy to hide and avoid any real risk of showing ourselves; for sure, there are times when either you need to feel safe and stay 'inside' or may quite simply not trust someone enough because of how they make you feel.

For those who regularly read the blogs however, we can see - or should I say we can 'feel' when we believe someone is showing vulnerability (being deeply authentic and truthful) and we can also then see and read the many marvellous comments that follow - dare I say 'flow', from that contributors wonderful spirit where 'floods of light and life flow'.

It is that small risk of showing our true self that ignites that spirit in others - a risk that is of course easier and ultimately safer to avoid - but at what cost? (To both yourself and your own community).

Such 'risks' often inspire others and the word inspire comes from the Latin 'Spiro' meaning to breathe - so to 'in-spire' is to breathe life into.

If you can - take a risk today - even if it is in taking some time to 'inscape' to surprise yourself at what you find. You may find that you not only 'in-spire' yourself but add 'light and life' to others, as we have so often recently seen in Moodscope, especially Andra's first blog.

This poem says it all for me:

RISK

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool,

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement,

To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.

To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss.

To love is to risk not being loved in return,

To live is to risk dying,

To hope is to risk despair,

To try is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.

They may avoid suffering and sorrow, but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or live.

Chained by their certitudes, they are slaves, they have forfeited their freedom.

Only a person who risks is truly free.

How free are you today, this moment, now?

Les

A Moodscope member.