Taking chances affect all aspects of our lives including life planning, health, work, social interactions, family, spirituality, and personal development. So, it is not surprising that as we get older, we are less inclined to take chances. We can get stuck in our ways. But there is good reason to keep taking chances.
Moving towards the second part of your life brings you closer to what is important and gives you meaning. If there is ever a longing in any facet of your life, that is a sure telltale sign that you are not living to your full potential and you are seeking growth. This longing can be satisfied with new opportunities for development via taking chances.
Reasons to Take Chances
Taking chances:
- Provides growth and allows you to reach your full potential
- Stretches your boundaries and comfort in the face of uncertainty
- Provides you with resiliency
- Makes you more confident
- Makes you feel alive
- Makes you feel young
- Makes you feel accomplished
- Gives you meaning
- Can be the road to a better life
- Makes you comfortable with failure
- Helps you overcome the fear of risk-taking
- Builds character
- Adds challenge to your life
- Can make you happier
- Puts the feeling of getting old, on hold
The Road Less Traveled
Seeking experiences that are new and different don’t require huge shifts. Small increments of change, introduced daily, may render great dividends and they might just inspire you to take more risks in your life.
When starting out on the road of choosing what to take a chance on, catch your thoughts as a starting point. Considering your thoughts is a habit that helps you understand your values, fears and desires.
Weighing your thoughts gets rid of dead weight that no longer serves you and in turn supports growth. And, growth is something that invariably leads to a happier, more fulfilling life.
A major component of taking chances is to gain change which offers contrast. Hopefully for the better, but no lesson is ever wasted. Engaging in “what if” opens avenues never explored before. That journey in it and of itself brings excitement to life.
Understanding Your Personality and Pushing Your Comfort Zone
Personality is like handedness. Just because you are right-handed doesn’t mean you don’t use your left hand. On that train of thought, you may even test the waters and further develop abilities with the less dominant hand.
Mining your triggers leads you to a deeper understanding of what you need to discover next. Triggers can be characterized by a strong emotional response. Find what you enjoy and expand on that. If you like Zumba, try Hip Hop. If you enjoy travel, try a new culture. If you like tennis, try pickleball.
You get what I mean. But if you are ready to kick it up a notch then try a new language before you travel or try a new hobby that is a 1-80 from your usual ones. Meet new people that have completely new points of view from your own and listen to understand.
Your Journey. Your Road
Taking risks and taking chances are relative. I once met a mountain climber that was a commitment phobic. Your journey is your own and only you know what limitations need to be stretched by you.
Trying new things will stoke the fires of youthfulness and in turn update your self-perception by opening new vistas and worlds. So, get out of your comfort zone and live this gift called life to the very last and to the highest level by taking chances.
