No Risk, No Reward

Today, I went to the Armory Show and my mind totally got lost for the day not only because the exhibition was overwhelming in its size and variety, but also I was amazed by how most artists expressed themselves with enviable gifts of insight, creativity and boldness.

After seeing those art works, I had a sudden insight that art and artists matter more than I ever thought in today’s world. Artists are people who take personal responsibility, stop settling for what is good enough, challenge the status quo and achieve their potential.

As Goethe said, “Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!” But, why do a lot of people maintain the status quo? I have met many people who complain about their jobs all the time and do nothing to make things better. They are afraid of the unknown and taking chances, since change is not comfortable and change requires adjustment to new situations. As a result, they settle for less than they can achieve for greater happiness and satisfaction.

In fact, the one constant in life is change, as we continuously change from the day we are born until the day we die. And we can make this process more powerful and rewarding by being bold to step outside of ourselves and increase our self-mastery just as the artists in the Armory Show.