Risk Taking: Are You Experiencing All that Life Has to Offer? | Slism
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Risk Taking: Are You Experiencing All that Life Has to Offer?

While some people just love taking risks, others have a high level of risk aversion. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it might be counterproductive as it could stop you from reaching your true potential.

Are You Taking Risks to Reach Your Goal?

Some people like to live safe while others prefer to be on the edge to have big gains. Risk taking is something that people are born with, but not all of them harvest their skills even though this is one of the answers to the question how to stand out from the crowd. Remember that the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. Although all risks are different, in some way they are the same and you need to be prepared before taking the jump. Never forget to do your research properly to know what to expect and then decide whether or not it’s worth it.

girl holding hat jumping

1. Failure is inevitable

Whoever said that failure is not an option, never took any risks. You have to be aware of the fact that you will fail. Some only fail once, others fail a hundred times before they finally get it right. It’s not about avoiding failure; it’s about the way you manage it.

2. Trust the process

If you even consider taking risks, it means that you are passionate about something. You have to trust yourself and your abilities, and you can be sure that you will get there. Have faith that once you start something you will be able to finish it and it will serve its purpose.

3. Be genuine

Make sure that you don’t lose yourself in the process. Don’t let risks turn you into something you’re not. In some cases you might be required to do things you don’t usually do, but that doesn’t mean that you should make the changes permanent.

4. Keep it within reason

No matter how good you might be with risk management, make sure you don’t do anything you don’t think through before. Don’t make any decisions in the heat of the moment and don’t trust those “great opportunities” that promise you wealth in an unreasonably short period of time.

5. Understand what's at stake

Before you actually take a risk, you have to make sure that you understand what you’re risking. It might be your security, your financial stability, a relationship, or another opportunity. Regardless of what it might be, make sure you make a conscious decision.

6. You only have one shot

Keep in mind that in life there are no undos and no replays. Once you have taken a risk, there is no way to turn back, so you have to make sure it is really what you want. Consider all the things you’re giving up and if you’re convinced you are doing the right thing, go for it.

7. Know when to give up

Even if you are willing to take a risk, make sure you set some limits. For sure there are some situations you don’t consider acceptable and you have to know where to draw the line. Sometimes you have to quit to make advancements in life.

Sometimes It Is Worth to Take a Risk to Reach Your Goals Rather Than Playing It Safe and Not Getting Anywhere

So, are you good at taking risks? Do you take risks? Is it a conscious decision you make or are you simply listening to your intuition?

1. Failure is inevitable, even for you

Failure is a normal part of life, so when it comes to risk management, you always have to think about the possibility of failing. All successful people have had their fair share of failure. Regardless of how optimistic or positive you might be, a time will come when you will be trembling because of insecurity. If you do fail, you will have two options: to quit or to keep going. If you think it is going to be a joyride, you are in for a horrible surprise and most probably you will quit after the first failure. However, successful people became successful because they didn’t give up and they never gave in.

2. Trust the process – trust yourself

In case you are even considering taking risks in life, it means that there is something you are passionate about. This passion stems from the inside of you and it is your muse. You have to focus on it, trust it, and listen to it to succeed. You will reach the biggest success when you focus the most on your work. Everything else becomes insignificant and you should only think about the matter at hand. If you know you won’t be able to focus, then there is no point in take risks because your endeavor is doomed right from the beginning.

3. Be genuine – be yourself

In some cases taking a risk could turn you into something you’re not and this is recipe for disaster. Did you ever pretend you liked something because your romantic interest liked it as well? If there is one tip in life you want to follow, it is to be true to yourself. Do things that make you happy, not the things that satisfy others – you will end up being unhappy. For instance you might be a great freelancer and you love it because it gives you freedom. Someone might expect you to get a 9-5 job because it is more secure. You might do it for them, but this isn’t really taking risk; in fact not being able to do what you love will leave you frustrated and resentful and it will never work out.

4. Keep it within reason and make conscious decisions

Risk taking behavior might seem like a good idea at a given moment because of your mood. However, if you thought things through you’d see that it isn’t such a good idea after all. Before you jump into something, you have to make sure you have time to think things through with a cool head. Don’t make hasty decisions. Do the math, consider what you have to lose, and whether or not it would be worth it. If something seems too good to be true, most probably it is. Gather as much information as you can to make an educated decision. Otherwise some of the risks you take may turn out to be a lot more expensive than you would have ever thought.

5. Understand what's at stake and what you have to lose

You might be thinking about jumping into a new business. What do you have to lose? Money? Remember that it will take a lot of time and you may have to pass on other opportunities to make this work. A lot of people are taking risks in love and you might be one of them. Starting a new relationship is always risky because you can never know how things will turn out. However, if you come to think of it, you will still win; you will have new experiences. You may be thinking about giving up a relationship to start a new one. Is it worth it for you? Is this really what you want?

Before you take the risk, you should think about all the opportunities you miss out on because of the risk you are taking. Nonetheless, if you are sure that this is what you want and that you will be able to manage the situation, there shouldn’t be anything to hold you back.

6. You only have one shot and one opportunity

Everything is arguable when it comes to taking risks, but you can’t argue with the fact that you only get one chance. When you take risk, you have to make sure you do it right because there will be no playbacks. This might fill you with excitement and if you have a risk taking personality, you will simply love this feeling. One of the saddest things you could think about is having regrets at the end. There is no point in regrets so you have to make sure you do everything at its right time and also make sure that you do it right. If you get a chance, you can be sure that it won’t be offered to you the second time.

7. Know when to give up – count your losses

In case you are asking why do people take risks, you should know that it is all about the gains. No matter how big the wins might be, you should know what you limits are. Draw the line at things you don’t find acceptable. For instance you might be offered a job that promises greater gains if you work extra hours. However, you might say that it’s not acceptable if you have to work 60 hours per week. It is alright to quit if things aren’t working out for you anymore. It’s not because you did something wrong; the circumstances are forcing you.

In life there is one advice you always have to remember: take a risk, take a chance. If you don’t take any risks, you will never gain anything worth fighting for.