I've always tried to take chances. I took a big chance when I quit my job a couple of years ago and became self employed. I take a chance every time I have to speak in front of a large group or bid on more work. On the whole, taking business risks has always paid off, and I have no complaints.
But taking a chance on your future earnings is nothing compared to taking a chance on your heart. Laying your self respect, your pride and your faith in humanity on the line isn't easy; in fact, it's one of the most difficult things we can do.
When you're faced with a difficult decision, try to consider all of the potential end results. There are a few possible outcomes you face when you take a risk:
- Things won't go the way you want them to when you take a chance. You'll be disappointed, potentially embarrassed, and risk doing irreparable damage to your heart, mind and soul. But as you grow up, and embarrass yourself constantly, there's less and less risk of permanent damage. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone miscalculates risk and 10 years later, no one remembers the details anyway.
- You take a chance and it sort of works out, but not the way you expected. Well, that's life, isn't it? You escape emotionally unscathed but perhaps no better or worse than when you invested in taking a risk. Chances are, you didn't throw yourself under the train, and that's why you got lukewarm results.
- Everything works out exactly the way you'd hoped when you take a chance. That's what we're all hoping for. Maybe what you want seems out of reach, and maybe you're right. But like my dad always says, you'll never know unless you try.
A while back I was listening to a radio show and the DJ shared results from a survey given to a group of senior citizens. Not the "over 55" Boomer group, but folks whose median age was in the 80's.
When asked about regrets, the respondents didn't say they wished they'd made more money, owned more houses, or got more promotions at work. Actually, the overwhelming regret was "not enough sex." Drilled down even further, another question about regrets netted the on-spot response "not enough good sex." The other regrets ranged from not enough travel to not staying in touch with friends or mending fences with family.
At the end of your life, what will you regret? My sister had a cancer scare last year. She was fine, and later told mom that if she had been diagnosed with cancer, she'd buy a Miata, a dream of hers ever since my brother bought one back in the day. Ever the wise matriarch, mom pointedly asked, "Well, what's stopping you from buying one now?"
Nothing, apparently, and at Christmas I drove the red convertible all over their little college town while home for a visit. This set off something of a chain reaction, as not to be outdone, another brother decided he'd always wanted a Miata too, and one snugly graces his driveway today.
Get inspired. Make a grand gesture. Do something you would normally never ever do. This year, celebrate this little-known holiday by taking a chance- on you.
