Life Risks You Should Take

Even if you don’t think of yourself as someone who plays it safe chances are that’s exactly what you’re doing each and every day. If the extent or your risks is losing control on a night out you’re selling yourself short. Not only is it exciting to take some chances, it can also prove to be of great benefit to your personal and even your professional life. When we don’t take risks we start to feel trapped and resentful which can have a far more negative influence than taking a chance on something now and then.

Here are the main areas where we hesitate to step outside our comfort zone – and why you shouldn’t:

Love

If you’ve set your sights on a tall, dark and handsome doctor or Playboy Playmate and think nothing less will ever be good enough, then your missing chances to meet your match everyday! Sure it’s important to know what you want from a relationship but if you focus too much on the superficial it’s unlikely you’ll find something you actually click with. The bond that comes from a meeting of minds is far stronger than one created by ticking off a checklist. So the next time you right off someone because they don’t seem like your type, think again. You could be missing out on Mr or Mrs Right.

Work

Do you avoid speaking up in meetings or putting yourself forward for assignments because you fear you don’t have what it takes? If so, your setting yourself up to be a follower, not a leader. Success in the workplace is reliant upon having an edge others don’t. When you try to move out of your main skill areas by volunteering for a difficult project or taking a short course, your showing that you don’t mind a challenge and are keen to learn. Initiative is noticed and rewarded, so put yourself out there.

Money

The GFC has made people re-think any risk associated with their cash. But without risk you’ll never achieve the financial goals you set for yourself. Moving from being comfortable to rich requires courage, patience and the ability to be prepared to lose some bets. If you can ride out the minor storms on the stock market you’ll have a good chance of achieving your dreams earlier.

Friendship

How long have you had the same group of friends? The problem with a close-knit group is that the comfort of it stops you from reaching out to other people and you soon find yourself in a rut. Don’t get me wrong, long-term friendships are wonderful, but they shouldn’t be used to avoid connecting with people. Opportunities to meet new people and form new relationships are available to everyone each and every day. Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know at a party or strike up a conversation in an elevator.

Passions

Have you ever travelled by yourself? Or travelled without meticulous plans, travel guides and reservations booked months in advance? Do you always read the same type of books and watch the same types of films? If what you do for fun is always the same then yore missing out on chances to discover new passions. This is the easiest area to take a chance in as the risk is low. Try a restaurant you wouldn’t usually or take a class you’d never thought of before. No doubt you’ll find something that makes your life richer.

Remember if you resist change you’ll stay the same as always – no worse, but no better either.