Why is it that when someone says they plan to do something that involves any amount of risk, our natural instinct is to respond with “Are you sure?”, “Why?”, or “Be careful!”? I often do things that most people do not view as “normal”, and am repeatedly met with responses like that. Which has led me to wonder why doing anything involving any amount of risk is often viewed as abnormal… and who decides what is “normal” anyway?
It is human nature to want the people we care about to be safe and out of harm’s way, both physically and emotionally. So it makes sense that when someone we care about plans to do something “out of the norm”, or unconventional, our survival instincts kick in and we immediately want to protect that person.
It is so engrained in our head to play it safe that “risking it” is heavily frowned upon. Now, I am not advocating being completely reckless… but I would like to remind you:
If you risk nothing, you risk everything.
What does that mean? Well, quite simply, if you don’t take a chance on something you really want, you may never get it… and life is too short to not go after something that has the potential to make you happy.
So I am challenging YOU to be bold!
There are instances in life when you have to take a leap of faith, take a risk (however slight), and just GO FOR IT! You do not want to wake up one day, look back at specific moments, and have any regrets. In taking risks there are no guarantees that everything will work out, but there is always a 50/50 chance that it will. And oftentimes, other doors will be opened to us that we never even imagined were possible.
I speak from experience when I promise that you will never, ever regret taking a risk. Like that time I took a risk and:
- Quit my job that I did not love at a law firm I had been working at for 2 years in order to move to a new city and pursue a master’s degree in a field I found interesting.
- Decided I was done dreaming about visiting Paris one day and booked that flight. Alone.
- Was vulnerable and trusted another human being to take care of my heart as if it was their own. [Spoiler alert: scary as hell… but worth it!]
Always remember: Fortune favors the bold!
I may not be exactly where I want to be at this point in my life, but thanks to several risks I have taken I am much closer now than I would have been if I had stayed safely in my comfort zone, too afraid to take that risk.
Even if something does not pan out exactly as you envision, wouldn’t you prefer to have tried and know for sure then to spend the rest of your life wondering?
So, I ask you: This is your life… Are you living? Are you happy? Are you taking that risk?
Do not be afraid about what others will think. Your own approval is the only one that truly counts.
Do not be afraid to fail. If you are willing and you have faith, the Universe will always provide you with another opportunity to try again.
Do not be afraid to dream big. Do not be afraid to strive for more. Open your mind up to your wildest dreams and realize that you can truly have anything you want in this life, if you only take the chance!
Do not be afraid to live. After all… what else are we on this Earth for?
Do not be afraid to feel. If you feel strongly about something – BE BOLD. TAKE THE RISK!
