To risk or not to risk. This is a raw subject because it calls into question much more than the obvious concerns about will or courage. So lets stab at the heart of the issue and see if we can't air out the nasty bits.

We have a need to feel powerful. To feel beautiful, strong and limitless. We see others attaining freedoms as yet unknown to us and desire these all the more. Pushing yourself to fly, love or become more in any way has inherent risks. Add to this the factor of risk that stems from your attitudes or abilities or state of mind on any given day, and you have a whole lot to negotiate.

If this combinations isn't enough challenge, we wouldn't be human if we didn't add in just one more ingredient to make the whole mixture truly volatile. This ingredient is denial.

Everyone has some balance of awareness and denial that influences their approach and ability to bring their full attention to a task. For many, denial of their potential inhibits their faith, limits attention and can slow or stop progress in most painful ways.

More potentially damaging though, is denial of clear and present dangers. Rushing or skipping steps in development to satisfy a need to feel settled, accomplished or cool.

As instructors, we see the dangers in every move and do what is required to mitigate them for our students. Students make this job difficult when they focus more on notching their belts with maneuvers than learning the techniques and awareness to deal with things when they don't go the way they had hoped. Thus, the catch becomes king and learning to fall to the net becomes an annoyance.

Perhaps we all risk more than we can afford to loose. Perhaps this is what allows us to grow beyond what we may have imagined for ourselves. This said, there is no substitution for coming to terms with what is at stake. Addressing your feelings for each eventuality. Working with the experts to assure that your expectations can be met with your resources.

Like a stuntman, learn to make the thing that appears to be without constraint, the things you have planned and practiced the most.

Train for the best and prepare for the rest and we'll see you in the sky.