I was reviewing a contract with a consultant. Since it was new to me, I asked lots many questions. His suggestions came back highlighted in a lot of red ink.

 

However overall, he said there wasn’t cause for a lot of concern. He used this metaphor.

 

Most people are taught to look both ways before they cross the street. That’s a good thing.

 

But do you generally look both ways if you’re crossing a one-way street? (What are the chances that someone will drive the wrong way just as you’re crossing?)

 

And will you look both ways if the street is blockaded at one end? Or blockaded at both ends for a festival? (What are the chances of being hit by a rogue vehicle?)

 

The consultant said that in legal matters most lawyers want to write contracts to cover every eventuality. In other words, they want to write every contract looking in every direction, trying to head off ANY eventuality that might harm their clients (whether the streets are blockaded or not…)

 

Now, I think I’m glad to be cautious in most instances-after all, I do want to be protected.

 

But in most life arenas I also want to give people the benefit of the doubt. I don’t always want to be looking over my shoulder, wondering who deliberately or inadvertently may hurt me.

 

What about you? How much caution do you exercise in everyday life? Where are you more cautious-and where are you less cautious?

 

How much do you use your left-brain to decide-and how much do you use your intuition to determine the amount of risk to take?

 

May we pursue our paths, using the best of our brain, our heart, and our intuition to decide how much caution we need to use,

 

Best wishes,

 

Elizabeth

 

P.S. Thanks to everyone who attended last week’s “Leadership Using Active Listening”- -it was a pleasure working with my fellow coaches and other attendees!