The Power of Taking Risks in Life

To Risk it or Not

We hear it all the time, get out and take risks, get out of your comfort zone, and just go for it.  But for someone like, who gets nervous and anxious just by the thought of doing something that might cause potential harm or misfortune, risks are too much to take.  

I’m not just talking about risks that make your stomach turn or leave you second-guessing yourself; I’m talking about the small, everyday risks we take.

Take driving for example.  You’re making a left turn, and the light turns yellow. You’re stuck in the middle, and one car is trying to beat the light.  After waiting for this car to pass, now you’ve got to decide: do you go ahead and complete the turn, risking a close call with oncoming traffic, or do you wait and risk holding up the cars behind you?  

Moments like this happen all the time.  It’s the small decisions that feel insignificant, but are still full of risk

The Risks We Take Everyday

There are so many risks we face every day.  The fear of failure, the unknown, the constant what-ifs, they all creep in and suddenly that bold decision seems a whole lot less appealing.  But the kicker is that the more you avoid taking those risks, the more you might miss out on the growth, opportunities, and life-changing experiences that come from taking them. 

For me, I took a big risk a few years ago.  I had a secure job, steady routine, and felt rather safe knowing what was expected every day.  But something was missing.  That undeniable itch that keeps you up at 1 a.m. wondering if you’re on the right path.  

A Big Risk I Took

The fact of the matter is, I felt stuck in my positon.  By the end of each day, I was emotionally drainded from dealing with an overbearing boss, and I wasn’t being challenged at all,  I was bored, and quite frankly, I didn’t feel respected. 

I would go in and give it my usual 100 percent, taking over every little task that needed to be done.  I was essentially the lone wolf in the office, picking up the slack for everyone else.  But eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore.  One day, I snapped. 

I took the biggest risk the day I decided to quit.  I had stability, something that is often difficult for me to obtain.  I knew that by quitting, I was going to have to start all over.  

I’d have to find another job, another daily routine, and hopefully a positon in which I’m appreciated. But deep down, I knew it was going to be nearly impossible for someone like myself.  I loathe job interviews because I have communication issues, meeting new people and learning to do new things that are unfamiliar, give me an exorbant amount of anxiety.

The road would certinaly be a spiraled mess. And since then, it has been. 

I fell into a deep depression afterwards, and spent a few years in isolation, (pandemic-induced), and felt no motivation or willpower to do anything.  But I came out of that, and now I have a new sense of enlightment.  

If I didn’t take that risk, my mental health would’ve buckled completely.  I had to make that decision for myself, regaurdless of a steady paycheck and a comfortable routine.

I knew my mental health was far more important than any of that.  I do not regret my decision.  Sure, I faced a lot of hardships and struggles between then and now, but I’m healing and growing in the best way possible. 

No Risk, No Reward

I began understanding that risk, while uncomfortable, can bring you a level of clarity you’ll never get by staying in your bubble. It’s the uncertainty that sharpens your instincts and forces you to level up in ways you didn’t even know you were capable of. 

I’m not sayin that every risk, comes with a reward.  But each one teaches me something new.  Things that work, things that don’t, and where I want to go next. The key to understanding failure isn’t the end of the world, it’s just a lesson in disguise. And even when you don’t get the outcome you desired, you’ve still gained experience that’s invaluable. 

Final Thoughts

I have no regrets, about the many risks I’ve taken over the course of my life so far.  Each one has taught me something.  At the end of the day, the only way to grow is take that first step outside of your comfort zone.  The rewards might not come right away, but they’re waiting for you on the other side of that leap. 

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

Neale Donald Walsch