Rubicon Redux 

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.” Frank Herbert

 I had occasion recently to visit with a friend about a blog post (available here) I shared some years ago. In that post I posed a question about what Julius Caesar, Cortez, MacArthur, and Rosa Parks had in common. They each made a bold decision and took action from which there was no return. Were they afraid of what would happen? Perhaps they were. We cannot know with certainty. If they were, they acted in spite of their fears. They each crossed their Rubicon.

Following that visit, I have been reflecting on the impact of fear on how we live and believe that, at a personal level, few things are more insidiously damaging to one’s life than fear. Our fears hold us back. They prevent us from acting boldly. They are the Rubicon we will not cross. Great writers have addressed this topic better than I can. I share some of their thoughts here, with observations of my own.

“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown.” H. P. Lovecraft

Fear of the outcome, the unknowns, of our actions, the impact on others, and what others might think of us, prevents us from acting boldly.

“Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future.” Thích Nhất Hạnh

What we have is safe. The other side is unknown. However, choosing to be happy with the status quo forecloses opportunity.

"Opportunities are like sunrises. If you wait too long, you miss them." William Arthur Ward

There is often a price to be paid for letting fear dominate. In most cases, opportunities are NOT like sunrises. They are available for only a brief period of time. Once a window of opportunity closes, it cannot be opened again.

Frank Herbert, in “Dune” addressed the topic. “I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear.”

And from my favorite Stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, “It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

The good news is; we are in control if we choose to be. 

Again from Marcus Aurelius, “Our life is what our thoughts make it.” 

One never knows when the opportunity to cross their Rubicon will arise. 

Be bold. 

Don’t let fear alter the course of your life forever.

On Crossing the Rubicon

The Die is Cast

What do these have in common?

Julius Caesar crosses the Rubicon.

Cortez orders his men to burn their ships.

MacArthur orders an amphibious landing by the marines at Inchon.

Rosa Parks takes a seat in the front of the bus.

When Caesar crossed the Rubicon he committed an act (arguably treason) from which there was no turning back.  He could never say, "It was an accident," “I didn’t mean to do it” or “Just forget about it.”  He had passed a point of no return.  Hence the modern meaning of the phrase "Crossing the Rubicon."  Each of the above is an example of a bold individual making a conscious decision and taking action from which there was no return.  There are innumerable examples such these throughout history; however, crossing the Rubicon does not mean world history has to be altered.  Crossing the Rubicon simply means you were willing personally or professionally to be bold. 

The consequences are not always known in advance.  Sometimes they are good.  Cortez prevailed in his conquest.  Whether that was for good or evil is still debated.  The landing at Inchon changed the path of the Korean War and Rosa Parks helped advance the civil rights movement in the United States.  Caesar, on the other hand, became dictator of Rome and was assassinated after only a year in power.  All faced potential disaster that could have far reaching impact.

Would Caesar have acted differently if he had known the outcome in advance?  I think not.  Bold individuals make bold decisions and pursue them.  The weak either never cross the Rubicon or try to meekly wade back across when they get to the other side and are weighed down with doubt or adversity.

Some don’t even know where their personal or professional Rubicon is to which I say, “Get a map and get moving. Cross the Rubicon.  Jacta alea est.”  #justsayin

This has been posted here as well as in drcamey on marketing.  It should speak to us both individually as well as professionally.