“What is an example of something that you learnt?”
“Okay, let me think.”
Marr paused and gave her mind space to answer the question.
“I know,” she said after a moment. “There is the idea of realistic optimism. I can’t recall where I first came across this. Anyway, the idea is that when you go into a jungle, you should take a spear. Hoping for the best but ignoring the dangers will only get you eaten.”
“How horrid,” Trence said. “That doesn’t sound optimistic.”
“I haven’t finished. The idea is that you must put yourself in the neighbourhood of danger on a regular basis if you want to have a rich and engaging life. Never going into the jungle for fear of finding a sticky and uncomfortable end, holds you back from being your true self. However, that doesn’t mean you can avoid every danger or pitfall armed solely with a cheerful outlook.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Let me elaborate. There is this story about a man’s experience of travelling to a foreign city. The man went jogging through an old walled section. That part of the city had lots of narrow, winding streets, which the man found fun to explore as he ran. He got increasingly confident as he dashed about the streets, the vehicles, and the people. That is when he came unstuck. He forgot where he was. He stopped considering that he was in unfamiliar surrounds. As he went to run past a streetside coffee stand, a small dog dashed out and nipped him on the ankle. It shocked him and he wanted to kick it and defend himself, until he realized that he was in the wrong place, not the dog. This small dog was the property of the stall owner. The man was invading the dog’s space by running in fast without any warning. The dog’s reaction was defensive, protecting his owner. The man had gone into the jungle with his eyes wide shut.”
“But that wasn’t a jungle.”
“Yes, of course. Jungle is a metaphor for daily life. Which inevitably involves dealing with challenging situations, typically involving other people but also our own doubts and fears. We need to equip ourselves appropriately.”
“I am confused.”
“Let me share more. Another way to look at this, when facing an adversary, is to ‘Hope for the best, plan for the worst.’ At times that is simply a matter of sizing up your opponents and looking for their weaknesses. At other times, you must enlist help from you network to gain access to the arsenal necessary to prevail.”
“This is something about preparation?”
“It is. But also, it is about taking responsibility for the actions one takes. It is about being accountable not just after the fact but ahead too. When you simultaneously strive to move forward while looking positively at who you are and what you want, you are being a realistic optimist. Let me finish with this passage from one of the many books that I’ve read on this subject. ‘Life is a wonderful experience when I venture into the jungle. To survive the jungle, I need to prepare myself without over-cooking it. Half the fun is the frantic search for a tree to climb when the spear breaks.’”
“Wow. This is wonderful.”
“It is, isn’t it. It speaks to the creed.”
“Can you remind me of the creed?”
“Of course. ‘Focus on that which is real in the heart. Create the space so that the process can emerge. Honour that which serves you well. Engage in the journey as it unfolds.’”
“Amazing. I’d like to have a look at these books.”
“I can help you get access to the hidden archives if you like?”
“Thank you, I’d appreciate that.”
“Count me in,” Dukk said. “I’d also like to learn how to access these hidden archives.”
Excerpt from Rule of Twelve, Book 2 - Convergence, Chapter 3
