The most dangerous person is the one who has nothing to lose.

Risk. Consequences. Ramifications.

These words don’t mean anything for this person.

Take Russell Crowe’s character in the film, The Gladiator.

He loses his emperor, position of power, wife and son.

He successfully avenges them and restores order to the empire he served for so long but which then betrayed him.

After having lost everything, he acts with freedom and abandon.

We can pay attention to this same principle.

Even if it’s on a smaller scale, day-to-day.

There is an ebb & flow to everything.

Venturing into a new endeavor, we start with eyes wide open.

If we pay attention and have minimal skill, we may see some success.

With confidence, we continue.

We stumble, fall, get up, and try again.

If we are fortunate enough to see more success, our expectations grow. With warranted enthusiasm, we bring hope on our next attempt.

It’s this hope, or expectation, that can trip us up.

After we trip, we try again with a little detachment.

It’s this detachment, that clears the path for further success, when we least expect it.

Maybe we will never be free from this cycle.

Maybe it’s inevitable.

But maybe if we are aware of the creeping expectation, at least we can carry on with less resistance.