By: Trina Johnson
Why are so many adults afraid to risk? So many people hold themselves back from what they truly want because they don’t want to take a chance because there are no guarantees of success. They fear loss of their reputation, their money, their time. But without risk, true growth is impossible. Think about the toddler learning to walk. They let go of that chair and take a step. Sure, they are going to fall down. But they get back up. They are no afraid of falling because they are looking past the fall and into the joy of walking. You need a mindset that is willing to embrace risk. A mindset that is striving to take that next step. To keep going. A mindset that understands that otherwise you won’t be able to move forward. This is true both for your career and your personal life. As I think back over my career, I wouldn’t be where I am today without being willing to take risks. They didn’t all work out exactly as planned, but I have few regrets.
There are ways to raise your risk tolerance and make you more at ease getting out of your comfort zone. It might sound scary but there are practical principles you can use to become more comfortable with risk. Now, mind you, I’m not saying you simply throw caution to the wind and take a crazy, irresponsible leap. No, I’m talking about taking intentional, focused actions to help you achieve your goals.
First, practice taking small risks. Do things today a little differently than you did yesterday. By practicing embracing small risks, you will find a shift in your focus. Your comfort zone will actually grow. You will no longer be quite so focused on the potential “bad” outcomes. You will be empowered by small wins along the way, giving you the courage to embrace bigger risks when the time comes.
Next, look at any potential failure as a learning experience. Do not let a stumble dissuade you. If you fail, what did you learn? What can you do better next time? Every day is a new day so you can always try again. When it comes down to it, so many of us allow our fear of failure to dictate what we do. The fear of what will happen if we fail becomes so big in our minds that we aren’t able to see that this fear is a failure in and of itself. You’ve got to take chances, make mistakes, and learn from them to really grow.
Accept the fact that life is all about change and nothing ever stays the same for very long. Many adults try to avoid change. But if you really think about it, that’s impossible. Life is always moving, always changing. It’s up to you to embrace the changes as they come and look at life as a journey. You get to be in charge and step forward out of your comfort zone. You get to determine the direction you want to go.
And finally, surround yourself with people who measure the “gain not the gap.” It’s important to have people in your life who celebrate your wins and help you see your value in spite of any failure. These are the people who matter. That they are either people who lift you up. If you are spending time with people who bring you down, who hold you back, who feed into your fears, find others to spend time with. Get away from the naysayers. When we are talking about learning to get out of your comfort zone, you want to have people who help you to see how far you’ve come. Maybe you didn’t hit the goal you set, but what you learn along the way is also worth the risk. These people can help you see what is possible now because you took the risk that otherwise wouldn’t have been.
What risk will you take this year? I challenge you to commit to getting out of your comfort zone. You never know what you will miss out on if you don’t.
Katryna Johnson, J.D., aka Trina, owns Mirelli Entrepreneur Training for Women. Her passion for helping women came from seeing her law clients broken and demoralized after divorce. She helps women build confidence, take responsibility, and launch businesses. She wholeheartedly believes women who help other women succeed will change the world. Find out more at www. MirelliETC.com