Is it normal that i take risks?

86% Normal
5 Comments

I grew up in a very sheltered household. My parents were always very protective of me and restricted me from going out anywhere that wasnt school. I wasn't allowed to do the typical activities kids and teenagers did like sleepovers or parties, so I had to make do with what I had.

Now I'm 21 and I've come to the realization that I know next to nothing about the world. A few people that I've encountered have even told me I'm very naive for my age. I feel as though many of the things my parents protected me from were the things I needed to know in order to survive. In hindsight I realize that my ignorance has allowed people to take advantage of me (this is particularly true in places where I've worked). In a desperate attempt to understand the world a little better I've decided to throw myself "out there" and get some exposure.

This obviously means I could find myself in risky situations.

is it normal to expose myself to potentially dangerous situations for the purposes of building resilience?

Voting Results
86% Normal
Based on 14 votes (12 yes)
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Comments ( 5 )
  • howaminotmyself
    11 years ago

    I can kind of understand where you are coming from. My parents didn't let me do a lot of things that normal kids did and I was often left out of the social world. Much of it was a result of my mother fearing that I would wear out my welcome so it was better to avoid the situation all together. She worried too much about how others saw me and tried to prevent me from getting hurt by not allowing me to do a lot of things. She believed that everyone would view me as some weird child for god knows what reason. She even freaked out when I tried to wear anything black.

    But it's not like I never got out. I was a stubbornly independent child (still am) and found a way to explore. As I got older I was able to convince them to let me make my own decisions. Sure, I did some stupid things. But they never caught me.

    A lot of people view me as naive and I think it made me cave to peer pressure a few times. And I didn't do it for resilence, I did it because I could.

    I think taking risks can be healthy, it helps you learn your limits and sometimes gives you amazing stories to tell. Everything in life comes with risks, set your own terms and do not let others tell you what they have to be.

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    • Anonymous Post Author
      11 years ago

      Your mum sounds very similar to mine. To this day she still thinks I'm one of the good kids, but her definition of "good" is very narrow. I don't think she realizes that there can be a lot of grey areas in a person's character.

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  • Steve2.0
    8 years ago

    Yes, taking risks is a very important part of how we learn as humans. NOT taking risks would be more abnormal, to be honest.

    And also, your parents sound like Joseph Stalin clones, just saying...

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  • rex
    11 years ago

    we had same kind of childhood...i have passed college and know very little of the real world.

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  • Short4Words
    11 years ago

    What type of situations are you talking about?

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