I spend a lot of time playing it safe. I’m not sure it serves me.
I recently decided to shift my approach. Instead of doing what is familiar or safe or easy or logical, I started asking myself
“how can I take a risk”?
When it comes to decision-making or setting goals or working on relationships, we are schooled to focus on what’s the right next step or what’s good or impressive or agreeable or politic.
We conform to certain norms.
We get stale.
We don’t feel inspired or excited or energized.
We don’t step out of our comfort zones. We don’t stretch our imagination very far when it comes to considering what’s possible.
What happens if you really consider the idea or taking a risk? What if you gave preference to risk? How would it feel to tap into the energy of risk??
For me, taking a risk sounds, well, risky! Meaning that risk brings up possibilities, actions or behaviors that are likely to come with fear or nervousness or anxiety; risk taking requires courage, gumption, nerve, will, concentration, extra effort, imagination, maybe even a leap of faith so to speak.
Risk definitely feels energizing.
I know that I spend a lot of my decision-making energy and creative pursuits trying to do things right and well. I want to be smart. I want to plan things out. I want to get a good grade. I want to be liked. I don’t want to screw things up. You probably have a list of what’s important to you, what you want people to think and see, what you care about.
Taking risks means risking not looking so good. It could mean an even bigger chance of making mistakes or being messy. It could also mean an even bigger chance of feeling powerful (you) or having a bigger impact (on others) or stimulating richer, more interesting discussion and activity (benefitting you and others).
What would taking a risk look like for you?
It could be Speaking up. Quieting down and pausing before you speak. Taking a leadership role. Telling someone what you really care about. Telling someone about an accomplishment. Or a dream. Hitting send or submit. Setting a deadline for something that has been sitting on your to do list for months or years. Telling others about the deadline. Sticking with the deadline. Saying yes with conviction. Saying no with ease. Saying you don’t know. Saying you don’t care.
What if you made “taking a risk” top of mind when you thought about your options? What would you say to the person you just related to? What job would you apply for? What class would you take? What piece of art or writing or speaking topic would you present?
Give risk a try. You may discover something new and good in the process. You may feel liberated from your stuck place or stuck pattern.