PROVIDE A SAFETY NET, NOT A HAMMOCK
Deng Ming-Dao

How do you show someone you love them, that you’ll take care of them, that they will always be able to feel safe in life? By all means, give them a safety net—but not a hammock.

One of my in-laws was a painter on the Golden Gate Bridge. He and his crew would start from one end, paint the entire bridge, then start over. He did this for decades and he’s now retired. Of course, he had safety gear and nets.

So this is what we have to do for our family, spouses, children, friends, and students. Give them safety nets so that they will have the confidence to try. In most cases, the net will rarely be needed. But don’t give them a hammock and let them give in to inertia.

Encourage their initiative. Then they’ll be both confident and accomplished. In turn, they’ll secure other safety nets for others to make unimaginable leaps.

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