Safety nets allow us to fly higher.

When I hear the word safety net, I immediately think of Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus, and those high wire acrobatics flying through the air. How do they do it?  A whole lot of practice, and knowing that if they fall, there’s a safety net in place to protect them. 

I looked up the definition of safety net: something that you can rely on to help you if you get into a difficult situation.

You can think of safety nets as your very own personal support team. Looking back at my own life I see how my safety nets have really supported me. What safety nets do you have in place when difficult situations arise? 

Safety nets can come in all different forms. One of mine came in the form of finances many years back. My father was a school teacher and a mother was a librarian. They instilled in me the value of working and saving my money for a rainy day. My father especially enforced the idea of having a nest egg. When I joined the working world, I made the decision to have money taken out of my paycheck every week and put into a saving account. I enjoyed seeing my account grow. 

Years later, I was laid off from my job, but instead of freaking out, I knew I had enough in savings to get me through until I got my next job. That money was a safety net I had created. Because I had that safety net in place, instead of focusing my energy on how I was going to make ends meet, I was able to get clear on what I wanted and find a new job. 

Safety nets can support us in all areas of our life, though. The physical, spiritual, emotional, social, as well as your relationships and career. When you review some of these categories and think of your safety nets, you might notice that some overlap.  That’s okay—it just makes for a richer life. Take note: safety nets come in all shapes and sizes. I’ll give you some examples. 

Physical safety nets: gym membership, physical trainer, doctors, nutritionist, acupuncturist, physical therapist, massage therapist.

Spirituality safety nets: church, prayer, meditation, service work, yoga, nature, listening to music, writing.

Relationships safety nets: date nights, learning about your ancestry, volunteering, social media, groups of all kinds, dating websites, counselors.

Career safety nets: networking groups, LinkedIn, business coaches, seminars, self-help books, furthering your education.

Emotional safety nets: astrologer, counselor, therapist, sponsors, mentors, life coaches, support groups of all kinds. 

Social safety nets: volunteering, church, taking classes, social media, friends & family, book clubs, dance groups, dating websites.

Financial safety nets: financial advisors like Dave Ramsey, educating yourself in accounting, banking, stocks and taxes through books, lectures, and seminars.

It might surprise you to realize how many of these safety nets you already do have in place. But if you feel you’re lacking in certain areas, the good news is you can always add them, so when the challenging times come you’ll have a beautiful support team to fall back on. Remember those acrobats—safety nets make it possible to risk more and fly higher.