Prudence isn't paranoia. It's the ability to recognize danger early and take precautions. While the naive walk straight into trouble, the prudent person sees what's coming and adjusts course.
I'm naturally optimistic, and it's been both a gift and a liability. I tend to assume good faith and see potential in situations that later reveal themselves as problematic. Over time, I've had to develop prudence - not suspicion, but the ability to see patterns and recognize when something is headed in a bad direction.
I was mentoring a young entrepreneur, and they kept making decisions with people who had shown themselves to be untrustworthy. I finally said: prudence means seeing the danger that's right in front of you and making different choices. That's wisdom. It's not cynicism. It's paying attention.
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