The world is full of examples of risk-takers making waves in every element of society—from technology entrepreneurs disrupting how we work and communicate to artists daring us to look at things in an entirely new way to do-gooders taking a passion and making it a global cause. Risk-takers are constantly redefining our world.
Kierkegaard put the human necessity to risk succinctly: “To dare is to lose one’s footing momentarily. To not dare is to lose oneself.” However, going out on a limb can be very scary, especially for people with a low tolerance for risk. So knowing which chances are worth taking in life becomes a personal formula of weighing risk versus reward.
Career shift. If you hate getting up in the morning to go to your job, it’s probably worth taking the risk to make a change. No one should spend a majority of the day doing something unfulfilling. Go cold turkey and make job searching your new daily grind, or risk more strategically by seeking a degree, class or internship that will set you up for success.
Passion project. Don’t put off doing something you know you love because you don’t think you have the time or resources. If you can’t scale back your hours at work or don’t have the money to invest in what you’re passionate about outside of work, figure out a way to make it happen anyway—put in some after-hours, integrate it into your work, find a passion partner, etc.
Health goal. We only get to stay in this world—and have the energy to risk new things—if our bodies allow us to. So if you’re wondering what challenge to take on next, your physical health might need to move up to priority No. 1. Can you risk skipping the snack aisle so you can eat better and be kinder to yourself and the planet? Can you give up some screen time to exercise more or play outside more often? Can you commit to a series of achievable lifestyle changes to ensure you feel strong enough to take more of the risks we are all wired to take? Bet you can.
