Setting the sliders VI: Greed and fear

The most primitive of dichotomies, one that affects the most primitive of life forms. Curl up safe in your little hole and die of hunger. Venture forth in search of food or a mate and you expose yourself to danger. A balance must be struck between these basic instincts. Fight or flight, survive or thrive, risk-taking or risk avoidance, these are predicated by which of these two instincts dominates in your personality.


Too much risk-taking fuelled by greed is harmful not just for yourself but for society (read Student SGH's excellent polemic on the effect of greed on economic systems). The point here is that it's not so much greed (both corporate and individual) that led to the global financial crisis of 2008/09, but lack of fear. When greed is not held in check by fear, disaster looms.

But fear of failure, fear of commitment to effort, fear of trying - fear is also harmful to the individual and to society. Little gets accomplished. Paralysis by analysis holds back get-up-and-go.

In one's own personal life, the key thing is to be aware of your own motivations; are you held back by timidity to the extent that you cannot realise your potential? Or does your greed propel you in the wrong direction, distracting you from realising your potential? It is important to stand above and look at the greed-fear balance within yourself from the meta level. Understand your biology and rise above it. Be conscious of it, apply awareness in everyday situations when you are faced with a greed/fear driven predicament.

This time two years ago:
Ul. Poloneza at its muddy worst

This time three years ago:
Poland's labour market woes