Hi, this is Monique Rhodes. Welcome to the In Your Right Mind podcast, where we’re learning how to be happier by working with our minds. If you'd like to know more about what I teach, come to iintendtobehappy.com, and let's get you started on a path to being happier.
The Quote That Hit Deep
I read this great quote by Jeanette Winterson, the British author. She said:
“I’ve noticed that doing the sensible thing is only a good idea when the decision is small. For the life-changing things, you must risk it.”
I felt that one in my bones—because it’s true, isn’t it?
Sensible vs. Significant
We’re taught that being sensible is a virtue.
- Save your money.
- Stick to the plan.
- Don’t rock the boat.
- Don’t quit your job unless you’ve got another one lined up.
- Don’t say how you really feel unless you’re sure the other person feels the same.
- Don’t step out unless it’s safe.
And look—I’m not here to knock being sensible.
There are moments when it matters.
- Book the cheaper flight.
- Choose wisely.
But honestly, those usually aren’t the decisions that shape our lives.
The Big Stuff Comes with Risk
The life-changing stuff? That never comes with a safety net.
It shows up wrapped in uncertainty, in doubt, in fear, in the unknown.
And yet—those are the moments that ask for everything from us.
My Own Leaps
I think about the times I’ve made big, risky choices—
- Traveling for years on a motorcycle through India.
- Leaving New Zealand when I was young.
- Walking away from things that were “half-working.”
- Turning down good things, hoping for great.
None of those decisions were sensible.
Not on paper.
Not to others.
But every single one of them carved the path toward the life I’m living now.
Why We Settle
We often stay in places that are “good enough” because we’re afraid.
- Relationships that are fine, but not true.
- Jobs that pay the bills, but kill our spirit.
- Silencing real desires and calling it maturity.
But it’s usually not maturity—it’s fear, dressed up as responsibility.
And the longer we stay in a life that isn’t fully ours, the harder it becomes to leave it.
But it’s never too late.
What Risk Really Feels Like
Risk doesn’t always feel like jumping off a cliff.
Sometimes it’s:
- Quietly admitting what you’ve always known.
- Whispering to yourself, This isn’t enough.
- Taking one small step in a new direction—without knowing the full path.
If something in you is stirring—
If a dream won’t let go—
If you keep imagining a different life—
Listen to it. Trust it.
It might not be sensible.
It might be sacred.
And that’s the difference.
Sensibility Has a Place, But So Does Courage
Don’t throw away your common sense.
But when it comes to the big things—
The things that make your heart race and your palms sweat—
Risk it.
Because you don’t get to extraordinary by playing small.
You get there by being brave.
And bravery rarely looks sensible in the moment—
But it always looks like truth in hindsight.
I hope this has been helpful.
As always, be kind, take care, and go gently in the world.
