Old German prince's story offers lesson in embracing risk

Are you a risk taker?

One of my favorite stories has to do with a German castle overlooking the Rhine River valley in Europe. We had noticed a good many of the castles we had seen on our tour had been damaged or nearly destroyed. Our guides had explained that over the course of a hundred-year period, Germany and France had warred so frequently over the Rhine Valley that almost all fortifications, villages, etc., had been severely damaged at one time or another.

This particular castle, however, was almost perfectly preserved. The prince who inhabited it had taken a risk. He had heard of a new, relatively unproven weapon known as a cannon. Risking his own limited fortune, and begging and borrowing from whomever he could, he invested in a half-dozen of these cannons for his castle.

Certainly the neighboring nobility questioned his judgment. His purchase had left him practically bankrupt; his own family, soldiers, and tenants were disgruntled, and there was no proof his risk would pay off.

Until the next round of fighting. As you have already guessed, his risk saved his castle and estate from destruction when most around were burned to the ground. And the cannon even allowed him to control commerce on the river below, the tolls from which more than paid for his initial investment.

Part of what makes this story so important to me is that I heard it at a time in which I was struggling with whether or not to take a risk by accepting a new job. No matter how many times I thought it through, it came down to not really knowing whether or not it was going to be the "right" decision. I would be giving up a lot with no assurances that I would gain anything as a result.

And here I was, thousands of miles from home, in my imagination hundreds of years in the past, realizing that I was not alone in my dilemma. Sir What Ever His Name Was in this castle had confronted a similar situation, made a decision, and lived with the consequences. And though there was no guarantee my risk would pay off as well as his eventually did, I at least was not facing someone trying to burn down my castle.

Most of us struggle with taking risks. We tend to prefer safety, security, certainty, a sure thing. And we spend a lot of time and energy searching for answers, situations, etc., that are supposedly risk free.

Yet the reality is that risk is a part of life. It can be risky at times just getting up in the morning. And almost all decisions of any consequence will involve some degree of risk. Taking a job or sticking with the one we have, moving to a new town or staying put, getting married or remaining single, having or not having children, or whether or not to buy cannons for our castle - all are risky choices.

We need to accept this and the uncomfortable emotions that often accompany such risk taking: fear, doubt, anxiety. If we can live with these feelings, we can use our rational abilities to make the best decision we can. We eventually may even find ourselves feeling courageous, confident and excited.

Our decision will not be perfect. Nothing is. But we will find a way to live with its consequences. And, we just may look back and congratulate ourselves for all our wisdom, foresight and risk taking.

Bought any cannons lately?

• Dr. Ken Potts is on the staff of Samaritan Counseling Center in Naperville and Downers Grove. He is the author of "Mix Don't Blend, A Guide to Dating, Engagement and Remarriage With Children."