Taking Chances - Is It Really Worth The Risk?

In life, if we want something, we have to take a chance. If we want a new job, we have to go through job interviews in hopes we make it to the next stage. If we want a relationship, we have to allow ourselves to be vulnerable. We have to let the other person know how we feel then cross our fingers and hope that they too feel the same. If we want to start our own business venture, we must be prepared to invest time, money, make sacrifices and hope that it all pays off.

Whatever it is that we want, in some way or form, we have to take a risk. It is like we are in a constant exchange with the universe. If we want to receive, we have to sacrifice something. Whether it be our time, money or our hearts. Sometimes when we do sacrifice and give it our all, we don't end up getting what we want and we end up facing failure, rejection and sometimes it feels like we just took ten steps back. But did we really fail?

RISK = SUCCESS  

Everybody has their own definition of success. To some it may mean wealth and fame, to others it may mean living comfortably with a healthy family and to another group, it may mean travelling, living life on the edge outside of their comfort zones. However one defines success is up to each individual. 

One thing that is for sure is that if we were to go and ask any one that believes that they are successful how they did it, I can almost guarantee that they had to make some sort of sacrifice and take a risk or two. 

If we aren't willing to take a chance or risk something then wouldn't it mean that we didn't really want it that much? So why would the universe allow us to have it? If we aren't willing to step out of our comfort zone, we will remain in the same spot.

IS THERE REALLY SUCH THING AS FAILURE?

Let's look at the entrepreneur that had a vision. They went out and tried to make their dream happen. They busted their ass off for months or even years trying to build something out of their idea. They woke up early and stayed up late, constantly grinding but eventually found that they didn't get the result they wanted. Did they really fail?

I'm sure during that journey they learnt a lot about business, marketing, strategy, what worked and what didn't. In my eyes, they didn't fail. I'm certain that during the time they were chasing their dreams, they learnt a heck of a lot on the way. Learnt so much in fact that they are now equipped with the tools to start their next venture. This time with the knowledge and wisdom they had acquired, and are now better equipped to make a business plan work successfully.

Now for the guy/girl that fell in love with the wrong person. They opened themselves up, let the other get to know their hopes, dreams, fears, the person that they really were. After all the effort, the sleepless nights, the arguments, constantly trying yet getting nowhere, they break up.

Was it really failure though? Did they really lose anything? In my eyes, they've now regained their independence. No more sleepless nights. No more arguments about nothing and now they can have peace. Did they really want someone in their life that was dragging them down?

PERSPECTIVE

We worry so much about what could go wrong that we stress ourselves out over things that haven't yet happened. I've done it myself a million times over in the past. There are three quotes that really hit home for me and got me thinking. I want to share them with you because I hope they help you as they have helped me.

If it comes, let it. If it goes, let it.

There are never any mistakes, there are only lessons.

I would rather flirt with failure than never dance with my joy. 

Instead of thinking about all of the things that could go wrong, how about we ask ourselves what it would be like if it did work out? Stop and take a second and really give this some thought. So when it comes to taking chances, is it really worth the risk?