Taking a risk, by definition, is hard. A lot of us spend most of our life avoiding risks, under the assumption that it’s the ‘safe’ thing to do.

As Dr Em explains, we have an evolutionary instinct for self-preservation; tendencies to overestimate danger and underestimate our ability to cope; and we often have early childhood experiences and messages around safety that can coalesce into ‘playing it safe’ behaviours.

In this episode, Dr Em reveals that paradoxically, if we spend our whole life avoiding risk, then we are guaranteeing a less engaged, less fulfilling, less ‘lived’ life than we are capable of. That in fact, avoiding risk, is the biggest risk of all.

Dr Em, also offers strategies to guide us in the direction of letting a little more risk into our everyday lives.

To watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link: https://bit.ly/4dMUP0l

There is a lot mentioned in this episode, find it all below:

🎧 Previous episodes of The Imperfects

Tim Minchin - Lucky to be here https://link.chtbl.com/6kCw7ZR0
Adam Grant - The potential of your potential https://link.chtbl.com/eUA4IJCh
Gina Chick - Don’t fight life https://link.chtbl.com/Ginachick
Pat Cummins - Love, loss & Life https://link.chtbl.com/o_uN8l_H
Martin “Rac” Heppell - The other F word…FAILURE

📺 Things to watch

Tim Minchin - Play it Safe https://bit.ly/44PnJc4
Moana https://bit.ly/4bJZyy2

🎧 Things to listen to

How i work - Amantha Imber, https://bit.ly/3WNGxXw

📖 Things to read

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy - https://bit.ly/3wE7nqm

🛒 Things to buy

The Resilience Project & Dr Em’s - 6 Month Wellbeing Journal https://bit.ly/3K8Z9cK

The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Emily - The Risk of Avoiding Risk

The Imperfects