Are you a risk-taker? Or do you always take the safe, easy way out? Do you stay in your comfortable but dull job because going on job interviews is just too scary? Do you stay with Mr. Boring-But-He's-A-Nice Guy because the thought of being dateless on a Saturday night or trying to meet someone else is a terrifying prospect?
"Why not go out on a limb? That's where the fruit is," said Mark Twain, one of many who has suggested that a life without risks is not a life worth living.
Like other personality traits such as shyness or perfectionism, the proclivity for risk taking seems to be a combination of nature and nurture. Some experts believe that birth order plays a part. Frank J. Sulloway, author of Born to Rebel, believes that second-born children are usually more adventurous than their older siblings. But regardless of birth order, the thought of taking a risk makes most of us feel vulnerable. And with good cause. The fears are endless. What if I fail? What if I make a fool of myself? What if everyone sees how incompetent I am?
Most of us fear failure, but the fear of success, of surpassing our parents, of separating from our past, of developing a new and stronger self image can be pretty scary, too. And any change, even a positive one, means we must let go of the past and mourn the loss before we can embrace the future.
There are a million reasons not to change or do anything that feels scary. But at some point, letting things stay the way they are feels smothering and constricting, and in most cases, the pain of not reaching for the sky eventually becomes unbearable.
There are several categories of risks, and each has specific associated fears.
Many new experiences incorporate a medley of intellectual, emotional, and financial risks, and determining what we're really afraid of is an essential step in the process of readying ourselves to make a move.
In understanding your risk-taking style, it's important to consider a number of different factors.
Temperament
Think about your general temperament:
Decision-making
Examine how you decide which risks to take:
Optimism vs. Pessimism
Consider your overall sense of optimism or pessimism:
Knowing your risk-taking style allows you to proceed comfortably, at your own pace, as you move through the necessary getting-ready steps.
The process of deciding to take a risk is quite complex, despite the urging of a popular footwear company to "Just Do It!" Following a series of orderly steps gives you a feeling of control, hopefully making your risk-taking experience a positive one.
The path you've chosen may meander in surprisingly unexpected ways, but at least you're moving. As Jim McCormick, a professional exhibition skydiver and a motivational speaker and leading authority on risk taking, says, "The greatest rewards in life go to the risk takers…Don't let your fears hold you back."
RESOURCES:
American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org/
Mental Health America
http://www.nmha.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Mental Health Association
http://www.cmha.ca/
Canadian Psychological Association
http://www.cpa.ca/
References:
Sulloway J. Born to Rebel: Birth Order, Family Dynamics, and Creative Lives. New York, NY: Pantheon Books; 1996.
The Power of Risk website. Available at: http://www.takerisks.com/. Accessed June 9, 2009.
Last reviewed May 2009 by Theodor B. Rais MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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