Why is it so important to take risks?
It’s said that nothing is certain in life other than death and taxes, which means that every single thing we do requires some measure of risk.
People are very keen to “stay safe” these days, but there is no such thing as real safety. To live an authentic, fulfilled life requires people to throw themselves off proverbial cliffs on the daily and discover whether they’ll sink or soar.
Risk is something we need to do in order to experience the life we’ve been blessed with. Below are just some of the reasons why people who avoid taking risks live much more unsuccessful and unfulfilled lives than those who feel the fear, and do it anyway.
1. You never know who you are and what you like if you don’t take risks.
I recently came across a blog post in which someone was talking about their “safe foods.” This person wasn’t autistic, nor did they suffer from any kind of food allergies. Instead, they stuck to foods they knew and were comfortable with because they were “afraid” of what other foods might taste like.
They thought that things like coffee, Thai food, and samosas smelled amazing, but they were just too damned scared to try them.
Look at some of your favorite foods and ask yourself how sad it would be if you had to go through life without ever having tried them. After all, you obviously weren’t born loving fettuccine carbonara or burritos. You had to risk a potentially unpleasant sensation in your mouth in order to determine whether they were good or not. But how sad would your life be without the amazing foods that you adore?
All of life is like this.
Every single thing you like was new to you once and, therefore, had a risk associated with trying it. You slowly become the person you were destined to be by stepping out of your comfort zone again and again.
2. “You never know unless you try.”
I’ve known people who have fallen into deep pits of depression because they haven’t gotten the job they wanted, nor gotten together with a lover they were aching for, simply because they were too afraid of rejection or failure. They’ve literally spent decades lamenting “the one that got away,” except that person or job opportunity didn’t “get away,” they weren’t even attempted.
I once asked a friend of mine why he never bothered going after a girl he was completely in love with, and he told me that he wouldn’t have been able to deal with it if she had rejected him.
There have been so many situations in which people have been into each other, but since neither of them took the initiative to let the other know, those chances for connection were squandered.
Yes, it may hurt for a while if the person you desire doesn’t reciprocate that affection, but it would be so much worse to find out 40 years later that the person you loved actually felt the same but didn’t think you were interested because you didn’t take that leap of faith.
The biggest contributing factor to people not doing things is fear. In particular, it’s fear of the unknown and all the “what if” anxieties associated with it. Most people talk themselves out of doing things because they’re more hung up on the potential negative aspects than the positive ones. And the irony is, as a result they get a negative outcome anyway. Because let’s face it, a life unfulfilled isn’t exactly positive, is it?
3. You miss out on learning invaluable coping mechanisms.
Have you ever wondered why certain friends of yours don’t seem to be plagued with anxiety or self-doubt? Instead, they tend to approach and deal with situations with confidence and self-assurance.
That isn’t because they’re secretly deities walking around in human costumes. Rather, it’s because they’ve exposed themselves to countless difficult situations and learned to cope with the outcomes accordingly.
I’ve seen people refuse to read books that they know they’d love just in case they see a word or phrase that “triggers” them and makes them uncomfortable. Rather than exposing themselves to it enough times that it stops bothering them, they’ll run away and hide from it, thus making themselves even more sensitive to it in the future.
Risks allow us to build up resistance and grow thicker skin. Life is going to throw difficulty at all of us, so it’s a good idea to learn how to cope.
For example, whenever someone travels, there’s a risk that their luggage will be lost. It’s frustrating when that happens, but it’s not the end of the world. You learn to pack essentials into your carry-on and make do until the airport returns the luggage to you. And if that doesn’t happen, you can pick up a few replacement items to get you through.
After you’ve learned once that you can handle such a situation, it will be less likely to cause you anxiety in the future.
You know you can handle it, so why worry?
4. Your life (and you) gets smaller and smaller the less risks you take.
When we’re afraid or hesitant, we contract into ourselves. This is where we get the description of someone “shrinking” in fear. In contrast, when we’re courageous, we expand. We literally open our hearts and minds to the potential of greatness.
Those who consistently avoid risks find themselves in a state of perpetual contraction. They become smaller versions of themselves, confined by self-imposed limitations and unfounded fears. This contraction doesn’t just affect their actions; it seeps into their very being, narrowing their perspective on life and stunting their personal growth. Over time, this contracted state becomes their comfort zone, a prison of their own making that’s increasingly difficult to break free from. The result? A life that’s a pale shadow of what it could have been, marked by regret and a nagging sense of unfulfillment.
5. There is no life without risk.
If you use a car to go shopping for groceries this week, you risk being T-boned in an intersection by a drunk driver. Do you plan on showering sometime soon, despite the risk of slipping and breaking your neck? How about eating? With every bite, you risk choking to death or having a new allergic reaction to something.
Get the idea? Absolutely every single thing you do involves risk of some sort. There’s no avoiding it, and there’s always the possibility of failure or devastation around any corner.
Many people are wracked with anxiety about the possibility of failure, so they hold themselves back from countless things that could bring them joy or success just in case things don’t work out. They don’t want to risk embarrassment, disappointment, or potential failure.
The thing is, the only way you are guaranteed to fail is if you don’t try at all.
Besides, there’s no success without failure. When we misstep at something, we try again until we get it right, and we learn an extraordinary amount in the process. Furthermore, I don’t know about you, but I’d rather risk and fail miserably than spend forever wondering what might have been if I’d actually had the courage to try.
6. You build less resilience and adaptability.
People who shy away from risks never develop the emotional and mental muscles needed to bounce back from adversity. They remain fragile, easily shaken by life’s inevitable ups and downs.
Consider this: when you consistently avoid stepping out of your comfort zone, you’re not just dodging potential failure. You’re also closing the door on discovering hidden strengths and talents. You might have a natural flair for public speaking or a knack for learning languages, but you’ll never know if you don’t take that first, risky step.
Moreover, risk-averse individuals struggle with adaptability. In our rapidly changing world, the ability to roll with the punches and adjust your sails is crucial. Each risk avoided is a missed lesson in flexibility, leaving you ill-equipped to pivot when things don’t go as planned or to make the most of unexpected outcomes.
7. You encourage fear in those who look up to you, and you don’t drive change in the world.
Have you ever noticed how the most admired people tend to be those who’ve taken significant risks? From entrepreneurs who quit their day jobs to pursue a dream, to activists who speak out against injustice despite the potential consequences – these risk-takers inspire us all.
By avoiding risks, you’re not just potentially stunting your own growth; you’re failing to set an example for others. You’re showing the world, and those who look up to you, that it’s better to stick to the safe and familiar, rather than challenging the status quo or dreaming big. Your hesitation might just be the anchor that keeps someone else’s ambitions grounded.
Furthermore, progress in our society is driven by risk-takers. Every major innovation, every societal shift, every groundbreaking discovery – they all started with someone willing to take a risk. By shunning risk, you’re positioning yourself as a passive observer rather than an active participant in that forward momentum.
8. You train your brain to believe you’re not capable.
When you consistently avoid risks, you’re essentially training your brain to view challenges as threats rather than opportunities for growth. This is the opposite of what psychologists call a “growth mindset” – the belief that your abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence.
Think about it: every time you shy away from a risk, you’re telling yourself that you’re not capable of handling new or difficult situations. You’re saying, “I don’t know how to do this, so I won’t even try.” This attitude is incredibly limiting and can negatively impact every aspect of your life.
For instance, imagine you’ve always wanted to learn to play the guitar, but you keep putting it off because you’re afraid you won’t be any good. By avoiding this risk, you’re not just missing out on potentially gaining a new skill – you’re reinforcing the idea that you can’t learn or improve at new things.
This mindset extends far beyond just hobbies or skills. It influences how you approach your career, your relationships, and even how you deal with setbacks. People who avoid risks often see failure as a reflection of their worth, rather than a stepping stone to success. They miss out on countless opportunities to learn and grow.
Finally…
At the end of the day, life is too short and too precious to spend it cowering in fear of what might go wrong. Yes, taking risks can be scary. Yes, there’s always the possibility of failure or disappointment. But there’s also the possibility of incredible success, joy, and fulfillment.
Remember, you’re not just risking failure when you step out of your comfort zone – you’re also risking greatness. You’re risking discovering parts of yourself you never knew existed. You’re risking falling in love with life in ways you never imagined possible.
So go ahead, take that leap. Try that new food. Apply for that dream job. Tell that person how you feel. Because in the grand scheme of things, the biggest risk of all is not taking any risks at all. After all, a life lived in fear is a life half-lived. Embrace the uncertainty, dance with the possibility, and let your courage lead the way. Who knows? You might just surprise yourself.
