“Living with fear stops us taking risks, and if you don’t go out on the branch, you’re never going to get the best fruit.” ~ Sarah Parish
When I was growing up in the ’50s, life was a risky business for most of us kids. We climbed trees and jumped out of them, explored abandoned buildings full of unknown dangers, built forts using rusty saws and nails, and rode our bikes for miles to go swimming unsupervised. We got minor cuts and scrapes, and occasionally one of us broke a bone or had to get stitches.
During summer vacation, we left the house early in the morning and usually didn’t return home until dinnertime. Then, we’d go out again to play under the streetlights. In the winter we’d tramp through deep snow to get to a hill on the other side of town where we’d fly with abandon down the steep slope and attempt to skate on the bumpy ice of the pond at the bottom. On the way home, we couldn’t feel our fingers and toes because of the hours we’d spent in freezing temperatures.
We spread our wings and dove into the unknown with no fear. It was a time of growing, a time of learning, and our hearts and minds were wide open to new experiences. It didn’t matter what anyone thought, and none of us cared if we failed. We didn’t even need a purpose for our adventures. We were just being kids.
If the risks we took were a success, we were filled with pride, excitement, and a feeling of accomplishment. If the risks resulted in failure, we were forced to deal with disappointment and embarrassment. Either way, we had the opportunity to learn and grow.
Although it’s a common perception that teenagers are the big risk-takers, certain studies show they actually take fewer risks than children. Like most teenagers, I was sensitive to the opinions of others. Although I still had that intense curiosity I mentioned in Life Lesson #5, I avoided new experiences because I didn’t want to appear silly or uncool. Fear of failure kept me from trying unfamiliar activities, and there had to be a reason for anything I did. Although I did engage in some risky behavior, it had less effect on me than it did as a child.
When I went off to college, I shed some of my inhibitions because it was an opportunity to create a whole new persona. Some of the risks I took were detrimental to me at the time, but they all allowed me to learn, grow, and change.
Research shows that women tend to take fewer risks than men, although women take more social risks. We’re more likely to speak our minds and offer our opinions, thus risking the disapproval of others. As we age, we begin taking fewer risks, but just as with any psychological aspect, risk behavior is complicated.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken in my life, as I described in Life Lesson #4, was when I started my own business. I risked my finances, since I was giving up a guaranteed wage for the uncertainty of freelance work. I risked my health, since I was now responsible for all the costs of my healthcare. I risked my relationships with my husband and family by the drastic change in our circumstances and the demands on my time. When we take risks, we are sacrificing our time, energy, emotions, money, or relationships. So, how do we benefit?
- Courage — We can learn how to conquer our fears.
- Growth — We can discover new things about ourselves and our world.
- Opportunity — We can take advantage of our talents, abilities, and interests.
- Power — We can make things happen rather than wait for them to materialize.
- Satisfaction — We can learn how to set and meet our goals.
- Happiness — We can experience the joy and exhilaration of success
Life is nothing more than a series of calculated risks, but the biggest risk all is choosing not to take any.
NOTE: This is the year I celebrate (?) seven decades residing on this planet. My journey so far has taught me many life lessons, so I decided to share some of them with you. I’ll be posting one each day from Thanksgiving to Christmas.
Yesterday: Be Compassionate
Tomorrow: Live for Today
