I would probably not be considered a risk taker – I haven’t been skydiving or bungee jumping. The thing is, being a risk taker is not really something that can be measured other than by the person taking the risk. This is because taking a risk is based on your own personal comfort zone.
What one person considers risky another might think is something fun to do on a regular basis (e.g., cliff diving). So, by measure of my own comfort zone (which is somewhere between the couch and my regular paying job), I take risks on a pretty regular basis.
Why should you take risks?
Risks allow you to grow as a person and in some cases can help you move to a better place in your life.
Five years ago, I took a risk by fixing up my first house and selling it. It was good timing . . . right before the housing market crash. I bought a new house in a very different neighborhood in the Los Angeles area.
At the time, it was a terrifying risk. What if my old house didn’t sell? What if I couldn’t find a new house that would meet my needs? Despite the risks, I recognized that if I did not take the chance and “just do it,” I would be stuck in a house that was purely functional in a neighborhood that I really didn’t care for anymore.
In fact, looking back further, buying that original house was a risk. At the time, my financial advisor suggested not to take that initial risk of the American dream. I am so glad I didn’t use his barometric gauge of personal risk as my own.
Getting outside your comfort zone to take a risk takes practice. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be extreme. It’s like dipping your toe in a cold pool; you don’t have to jump completely in to experience the risk of freezing.
Is there something you’ve always dreamed of doing? Is there a small risk you could take today to move you towards that goal? If you are not used to taking risks, it might be a bit uncomfortable; however, as long as you aren’t skydiving, the risk should not kill you.
Currently, I am moving outside my comfort zone by trying online dating. I am doing this because I want to be married and share my life with someone special (and the traditional method of waiting for the universe to bring me someone hasn’t worked). Taking this risk, which is definitely outside my comfort zone, is helping me grow and become more comfortable in meeting all sorts of new people. Will it result in my ultimate goal? Who knows? What I do know is that if I don’t take the risk, I will never know.
As you start to take small risks towards your goals, you will discover more about yourself and grow as an individual. And, surprising, the risks will get easier (there will not be as much disc. So, what are you waiting for? Take a risk and leave a comment below on how you are going to step outside your comfort zone and take a risk.
© 2011 Heather C. Morrow. All rights reserved
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Heather C. Morrow, owner of Pottery Daily, helps emerging artists express their true value and get paid what they are worth. Her products and services show you how to make more money, save more time while enjoying the freedom in your art. For your FREE audio go to www.marketandsellyourart.com.