Taking chances?

Hypothetical situation: you live a good life. You're generally pretty happy with where you are. There is just one glaring piece of the puzzle that you know does not fit, but you are too scared to do anything about it. What kind of person are you? Do you sit there and do nothing hoping that one day you'll forget about it and think about it less? Maybe something else will come along that will fit the puzzle just as well. Its better to never find out and never get hurt.

Maybe you are the person who is always taking that leap of faith. Its better to know, even if you get hurt, rather than to regret never finding out at all. Most people think the first person I described a coward and the second brave. I can see that. I can understand it. I'm just not so sure I agree with it. Whether it is a question of career, heart, faith, or anything else, why is the person who holds back a coward. Why is protecting yourself cowardly? How is it any better to keep putting yourself out there and keep getting hurt? How is the first person a coward and the second person not a fool?

To all of those who say honesty is the best policy, I get that and I say that not sharing your feelings completely isn't lying. Its guarding yourself. I don't understand how people can put themselves out there, get hurt, and then turn around and do the whole thing over again. As animals, isn't negative reinforcement supposed to eventually stop us from committing those actions that lead to hurt? Doesn't that mean that those who are reserved in taking the leap are the sensible ones? The ones who hold back are naturally doing what nature has taught them. That's not cowardice. That's life. Just my thoughts.

Radhi