Risk Taking-Why We Are Scared to Take Risks
Are you stuck in solving a problem? What’s keeping you from solving this problem? Is it that you are hesitant to take a risk?
Why are we so scared to take risks? It could be lots of reasons, for instance: not wanting to get out of our comfort zone, fear of rejection, fear of being hurt, fear of change, or need for certainty, our desire to avoid conflict, fear of failure, lack of belief in ourselves. Risk taking is accepting the need for change and understanding what’s involved in taking such actions.
We are talking here about intelligent risk taking, not being careless. Intelligent risk taking enables you to express your creativity, drive and motivation.
Risk taking often requires an honest look at the situation and the required actions. It is also important to understand what the risks are and the advantages and disadvantages of taking the action. Once you have committed yourself to the action, you must also be prepared to accept the consequences of such actions.
Here is one of my favourite quotes on risks.
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before the crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live.
Chained by his own fears, he is a slave; He has forfeited freedom.
Only a person who risks is free!
TIP OF THE DAY – As Nike says … Just do it!!
My challenge for you: Think of one area in your life that you have been putting off taking a risk. My challenge is to identify what is keeping you from taking action. Now, identify one action you will take this week.
My stretch challenge for you – is to email me and tell me the action you will take, then email me when you have completed the action.
Final thoughts:
“If I had my life to live over I’d like to make more mistakes next time. I’d relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier that I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and fewer beans. I would perhaps have more action trouble, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones. You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had to do it again, I would travel lighter than I have. If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds, I would pick more daisies” Nadine Stair at age 85
Michelle Zelig Pourau of Personal Power International is a successful business & life coach & professional speaker. She has considerable experience in all types of coaching around the world.
Michelle started her coaching career when living in New York in 1992 & continued coaching in New York, while still working on Wall Street. On return to Melbourne Australia in late 1996, she returned to Management Consulting. In 1999 she decided it was time to re-ignite her coaching career & has been coaching since. Given Michelle has had over 20 years corporate experience, one of her speciality areas is executive/corporate coaching – helping people to understand & distinguish behaviours that are effective & those that impede their success. Once these are understood, Michelle then works with clients to work through these issues.
Other coaching specialties are motivation, building confidence, de-stressing, setting &achieving goals, creating balance & life transitions, relationships and wellness.
Michelle is past President Interntaional Coach Federation 7/2002 – 12/2003
