Risks

I have been reading an article on risk taking.  I found it interesting.
There was scientific stuff that went over my head like “mesocortical limbic circuitry” which apparently is the probability centre in the brain.  They should have just said that in the first place.  That I could understand.  The meso thingy was a bridge too far.
I do like that the author says, “biology is not destiny.”  I reckon I am more than a slave to my impulses, or that I am merely a robotic being.
There are matters over which I have no control so it is not a matter of taking risks at all.  A meteor hitting this place is not something I can avert.  Fortunately, there are people searching the skies to try and divert an incoming meteor.  I’ll let you in on a secret.  It is not me.   Actually, if my taxes help pay for these people, then in some small way it is me – even if not directly.
We are all risk takers.  It is really just a matter of degree.  According to the article apart from our genes and hormones, factors that influence our willingness to take risks include who we mix with, our emotions and responses to stress and success and failure, and our levels of preparation and experience.  In the 60’s I would say I can dig that.  Today I do not know.  Totally rad is probably so yesterday too.
For other things I need to assess the risk.  Bungy jumping for example is something not really in my nature to do.  Being at heights is a risk I tend to try and avoid.  I think the fact I cower against a wall when a kid walks to a fence and looks down a great height says that.  Jumping out of a plane is also something I don’t seek out.  I would do it if I had to, but I will spend my life avoiding it if I can.
If I must take a risk, I will assess it first and break down the challenges.  If it is something I want to do, and the risks are worth it to me, I will go ahead and do it.  It is only a small example but today we moved a table to our shed.  My preference was to take the table out the front and through the garage.  I wanted to avoid any glass in the house.  We ended up taking it through the house.  I weighed it up and deemed it to be worth it if we took precautions.  We did and nothing untoward transpired.
The article quotes three different sources.  I like the way it ends “risks must be balanced with rewards; optimism must be weighed against probability.”  It does not mean I am never flying blind, but if I know I can trust the pilot the risk is worth it.