When Safety Breeds Stagnancy
Hardship and difficulty are not comfortable experiences, but they are necessary for human growth. The ancient Celts understood this deeply—it was woven into every facet of their society and spirituality.
They valued resilience, courage, and the strength that comes from facing what is difficult head-on. In their world, challenges were not avoided. They were embraced as opportunities to grow stronger, to deepen one’s wisdom, and to connect with the essence of the human experience.
Safe Spaces
Today, the concept of ‘safe spaces’ often comes from a place of care and compassion. It acknowledges that people have different experiences and vulnerabilities. Plus it aims to create environments where individuals feel protected from harm.
This is undoubtedly important in contexts of genuine danger or trauma. Where safety is essential for recovery and healing—such as in situations involving domestic violence or abuse. Physical safety and protection from emotional harm in such situations should never be dismissed or undermined.
Risk
But there is a risk in expanding the idea of safety to cover every aspect of life, including moments of intellectual discomfort, disagreement, or emotional unease.
When safety becomes synonymous with never encountering a different point of view, it begins to stifle growth when it demands that people avoid all sources of discomfort.
It shields people from the very experiences that build resilience—the moments that teach us how to cope with challenges, think critically, and navigate a complex world full of diverse perspectives.
Growth
The Celtic warrior archetype within us thrives not in the absence of challenge but in learning how to rise above it. Without this push toward growth, our inner warrior stagnates, remaining untested and underdeveloped.
There is a difference between creating environments that support genuine safety—protecting against violence and abuse. Attempting to shield ourselves from anything that might trigger discomfort or disagreement. In the latter case, we risk weakening our ability to grow, learn, and engage meaningfully with others.
Honor and Integrity
In the ancient Celtic worldview, honor and integrity came from facing challenges, not avoiding them. They understood that true resilience is forged in the fire of difficulty, not in the absence of it.
When we avoid discomfort under the guise of ‘safety,’ we may feel better in the short term, but we rob ourselves of the chance to develop true inner strength.
The lessons learned through hardship allow us to navigate life with grace, compassion, and courage. Without those lessons, we risk becoming fragile—easily broken by life’s inevitable challenges.
Beliefs
It is also essential to recognize the profound value of allowing different voices to be heard. The fact that all humans have the right to express their beliefs is a privilege and a wonder of our time.
We must be careful not to lose this under the pretense of safety, where silencing others is seen as a way to protect ourselves from discomfort.
The Celts valued the power of the spoken word, the sharing of stories, and the strength of debate. To them, dialogue—even heated, uncomfortable dialogue—was a way to forge understanding. To honor different perspectives, and to grow as a community.
Facing discomfort
Celtic Sovereignty lies in learning to stand in the face of discomfort, to hold your boundaries while also allowing others to express theirs.
It lies in the ability to discern when safety is truly at risk and when you are feeling the discomfort of growth. Safety has a place—it protects, nurtures, and heals.
But the overreach of safety into all areas of life leads to stagnation, and it is in that stagnation that you lose touch with your strength.
Growth, resilience, and courage come from facing challenges, not avoiding them. We must honor the need for safety without allowing it to become an excuse to avoid growth.
The Celts, with their balance of protection and valor, knew that the human spirit needs both nurturing and challenge to thrive.
Today, we would do well to remember this balance. Honorour need for safety while never shying away from the growth opportunities that discomfort brings.
🥰 Do you have thoughts or experiences of this? Please share in the comments.