F/5'7"/129 Trying to find the balance of having fun, learning and taking chances but staying safe. [Rant, Advice?]

A year ago my rib was broken by me allowing my ribs to be exposed during a side control, and since I have found that I am so cautious with my ribs that although I don't often get my arms attacked, as I cement them to my ribs, I find myself stuck and too afraid to push and reach. This happens all the time being that all of my partners are bigger. I have rolled with one other person who was smaller than I. I feel like it's a pick two triangle. If I take chances in order to learn, and have fun exploring that, I'm not safe. If I play it safe and have fun, I don't grow and learn as much as I feel I would otherwise. And if I take chances without playing it safe, I don't have fun getting injured and I learn almost nothing. I've gotten to a point where I really feel comfortable just... playing defense and staying safe. "Oh, well I'm stuck with them in side control because I'm afraid of pushing and exposing my ribs, so I'll just sit here and wait." Yet, then I'm not exploring my opportunities as much as I could be. I live in a place where there isn't a huge BJJ following. I am fortunate to have a wonderful black belt as my soon to be husband, but he really rocks the thousand kilo vibe.. Edit: BUT not on me guys. My man is an excellent training partner, and anyone who knows him knows he's a very defense sort of guy and at a whopping 150lbs, and very cautious to my past injuries, he's not murdering me.