We have all been there. Should we buy the house or not? Should we go back to school or put our energies into our current role Should I Go Back to School During a Recession? – Kenzie Academy (snhu.edu)? Should we hire the candidate or move on? We, more frequently than not, choose to stay the course. We choose not to buy the house and to stay where we are, we choose not to return to school and we choose not to hire the candidate. We pat ourselves on the back for making a great decision. The house was too expensive, and we probably couldn’t have sold our current home, we probably couldn’t have managed to further our education and continue to work and that candidate that we decided to turn down was lacking in at least 6 different ways. You have avoided what was certain to be a failure. The question is, whose failure are you actually trying to avoid and what are you giving up when you are unwilling to take a risk? The Incredible Power of Taking Risks in Life – The Daily Positive
The fact of the matter is, the greatest achievements require going outside of your comfort zone and taking a well thought out risk. Many of us have a difficult time dealing with the uncertainty that goes along with taking risks. We grow uneasy not knowing the outcome and we fear potential failure. What if I cause my family financial ruin? What if I lose my job because I can’t put in as many hours as before? What if the candidate that I hire isn’t perfect and I am blamed? At the root of most of these questions is the questions “What if I’m not good enough?”
One way to combat the fear of risk taking is to ask yourself “What if” or “So what?” These questions can diffuse the negative self-talk by providing alternatives. Taking a risk to achieve a goal requires courage to face the fear of uncertainty. No matter the outcome, either way, we grow through the process and become more resilient and confident. There is no right or wrong answer to many of life’s questions and avoiding them all together ensures that you never allow yourself the opportunity to grow.
Another way to combat the fear of uncertainty is to remember that in almost every situation, you are allowed to make a U-turn. If the decision you made does not work out as you expected it to, then make another decision. Figure out what your learnings are, what experience you took away from the situation and move on.
One of the more obvious ways to reduce the fear of risk is to learn as much as you can about the experience you are considering embarking on. Career advice: How to get better at taking risks (usatoday.com) Find other people who have done what you are considering doing and get their advice, listen to what they have learned and what they would have chosen to do differently.
Successfully taking risks The Importance Of Taking Risks (7 Reasons To Take More Risks) (eightysixfourhundred.com)can lead to very positive outcomes including:
- Standing out form the crowd
- Helping you to feel alive and empowered
- Enabling you to think more creatively
- Helping you to learn about yourself
Risk taking can be healthy and help people develop confidence. Any failure you experience is part of the success process, not the antithesis of success. If you aren’t willing to risk failing it is likely you will never be willing to take the risks necessary to experience great success!