Cautious or Chicken?

Once upon a time, I owned pet chickens. At first I thought they are not too bright. Whenever something new was introduced to their coop, they pretended it did not exist for a few days. Then slowly they approached it, until finally they explored and used it. This ‘pretend the new thing is not there’ behavior puzzled me. Were they cautious or fearful, which is perhaps why fearful people are called chicken. Obviously, those who coined the term ‘chicken,’ opted for the fearful explanation.

But then I considered the plight of chickens:

• They cannot outrun their enemy, of which they have many as it would appear that both animal and human find them tasty.

• As for flying – not so impressive.

• Fighting their way out of danger is not much of a viable option either.

So are they fearful, or wisely cautious?

But that was my chickens – how about you?

Are you someone who bravely takes on new challenges, or do you prefer the tried and tested?

Do you enthusiastically embrace new opportunities or do you hesitate? Sometimes too long and then the chance is gone.

If you are the latter – are you cautions or fearful?

It is rather important to make the distinction, for if you live from a place of fear, your life will be so much the poorer for it. The good thing about us humans are, we have options, we can change, if we choose to do so.

Wishing you a fearless, albeit wisely cautious life,

Reen