Dare to Risk
Quotes
“Take risks: if you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.” Swami Vivekananda
“To know what life is worth you have to risk it once in a while.” Jean-Paul Sartre
“If you’re not scared a lot you’re not doing very much.” Robin Sharma
“Sometimes, the biggest risks are those we take with our hearts.” Anonymous
“The biggest risk a person can take is to do nothing.” Robert Kiyosaki
“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” Jim Rohn
Courtesy of everydaypower.com
Abstract
‘Who dares wins’ the British Special Air Services (SAS) motto is a very relevant and true motto. He or she who dares really wins. You need to risk failure in order to win. Risk aversion is a terrible thing that has killed many dreams and potential bright careers.
We need to embrace risk in our lives in order to thrive. We need to learn how to explore outside our comfort zones daily and get out there in that river called life. Instill courage and fortitude in your life. You should aim for your goals and show your talent to the world.
The most tragic scene to watch in life is wasted talent due to the fear to try. Dare to try you never know how far it will take you and what you will encounter down the road.
Risk to Thrive
Definition of Risk- courtesy of Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Definition of risk
(Entry 1 of 2)
1: possibility of loss or injury
2: someone or something that creates or suggests a hazard
3a: the chance of loss or the perils to the subject matter of an insurance contract also : the degree of probability of such loss
b: a person or thing that is a specified hazard to an insurer
c: an insurance hazard from a specified cause or source war risk
4: the chance that an investment (such as a stock or commodity) will lose value
at risk
: in a state or condition marked by a high level of risk or susceptibility patients at risk of infection
Law of Duality in Nature
Nature always pulls us in two opposite directions. Our emotions are counterbalanced by opposite emotions. Our actions are also counterbalanced by other actions. You can choose to laugh or weep, to sit down or walk. To do nothing or to act.
This duality of nature applies to achieving our goals and dreams. You can choose to thrive or you can choose to stay idle and decline. Any achievement/success that comes our way always involves the risk of losing something.
The Chinese recognized the duality of nature with the yin and yang concept. (What Is the Meaning of Yin and Yang? (thoughtco.com))
Yin and yang (or yin-yang) is a complex relational concept in Chinese culture that has developed over thousands of years. Briefly put, the meaning of yin and yang is that the universe is governed by a cosmic duality, sets of two opposing and complementing principles or cosmic energies that can be observed in nature.
There is a poem by William Arthur Ward that helps bring out the duality of risk
Poem: ‘To Risk’ – By William Arthur Ward
“To laugh is to risk appearing a fool…
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out to another is to risk involvement,
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return,
To live is to risk dying,
To hope is to risk despair,
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow,
But he cannot learn, feel, change, grow or live.
Chained by his servitude he is a slave who has forfeited all freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.
The pessimist complains about the wind;
The optimist expects it to change;
And the realist adjusts the sails.”
My First Love
There is no emotion that is as strong as love or infatuation. I still remember the name of the first girl I was infatuated with ‘Jackie’. I was still in nursery but I do remember I had puppy love for her and found her the most beautiful creature I had ever seen.
I was too afraid to approach her and tell her about my feelings. I had to ask my elder sister to do this. Unfortunately, the feedback I got was that she was more interested in one of my friends. It was a crushing blow but it freed me to move on.
We need to learn to face rejection and still move on. When we become adults, we let our ego and pride control us. We fear rejection more than trying to achieve the end feelings and emotions of achieving our goals and dreams.
You would not be alive if your parents had not taken the risk of falling in love or committing to each other. That’s why risk is a necessary part of life we cannot do without it.
Great Endeavors
Most of the greatest endeavors in human history have been accomplished at great personal risk to the individuals who initiated them. We need to take a cue from those who have had the courage to venture out. The biographies of these individuals reveal their appetite to take risks
All of human kind’s greatest achievements have come about when adventurers, scientists and other explorers took and embraced risk. Risk is the currency of innovation and progress. Without taking calculated risk we would not have advanced as the human race.
Great Explorers
The greatest explorers in the world took high risks to achieve what they did at the time. They were pioneers sailing out to discover areas that had never been explored before. Names like Vasco Da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Francis Drake, Captain James Cook, Richard Burton, Ernest Shackleton, Ranulph Fiennes etc.
These journeys were filled with great peril and adventure. Some of the toughest journeys were endured by these individuals. Vasco Da Gama set out to explore the Indian Ocean and Eastern seaboard of Africa. He set out with 170 men and 116 men perished in this 2-year voyage.
Ernest Shackleton who explored the Antarctica tried to reach the South pole in 3 expeditions. His 3rd expedition ‘the Endurance Expedition’ was the most famous as his crew got stuck on ice. He carried out a rescue mission over 1300 km of inhospitable terrain that saved all his crew members. That expedition, that took place in 1914, is still one of the greatest exploration stories of all time.
Great Scientists
There are a pantheon of great scientists that have lived through the ages. Some of the greatest names include Nicola Tesla, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Marie Curie, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Galileo Galilei, Richard Feynman etc.
These scientists took the time to explore deep in their respective areas of study. They were pioneers who risked pushing the edge of their respective fields to get to the heart of the subject matter.
Minimize Regret
A study was carried out and it found out not taking risks was one of the key regrets of patients who were on their deathbeds.
One key regret was not taking their chances and aiming for the sky. There were seven regrets listed and the third key regret was not having taken more risks in their lives.
Jeff Bezos the founder of Amazon used the Regret Minimization theory in his approach to work and life in general. His key philosophy is centered on minimizing regret. He never wanted to look back in his life and use the word ‘If only’
Reduce regrets by increasing your risk threshold tolerance. Fight hard for your dreams never give up no matter what you face. Take the risk to soar like an eagle in the sky.
Summary
Those who value safety above all else live average and mediocre lives. Dare to live a life that is exceptional and above average.
Having the guts to aim for more and live a greater fulfilling life should be one of our great priorities wherever we maybe. Use risk taking as a tool to move forward in life.
Read
Rejection Proof: How I Beat Fear and Became Invincible Through 100 Days of Rejection – Jia Jang
Little Bets: How Breakthrough Ideas Emerge from Small Discoveries – Peter Sims
Taking Smart Risks: How Sharp Leaders Win When Stakes are High – Doug Sundheim
DARE: The Mindset for Successful Innovators in the Digital Age – Eric de Groot
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