I’ve recently read ‘Never Play it Safe’ by Chase Jarvis, and it spoke a lot about how important it is to embrace failure. There was a section on risk-taking which stuck with me. Especially because I don’t think we go through life without taking risks.

Everything we do, every choice we make is a risk that we take. Even living our ‘regular’ lives is a risk.

Working at your office job is a risk, because you could be doing so many thousands of other things with your time.

Getting into and driving your car anywhere is a risk. Yet, the threat of a car accident is always looming, from hitting a loose chunk of road, to an animal or person stepping out in front of us, to someone else making a split second mistake.

Eating takeaway food, swimming at the beach, hell, even walking down the street are all regular things we do, even though there is always a possibility of food poisoning, drowning, or getting attacked. This isn’t to scare you (and I apologise to any OCD sufferers out there whom I may have triggered). This is to show you that life is already full of risks, and yet you take those without a second thought.

You’re already used to taking risks, whether you want to admit that or not.

This has been huge for me, as I work to reframe my own mind and understanding of the world. Taking risks is normal, and more often than not, things work out (not to tempt fate).

I want to be better at taking risks with my creative pursuits, my art and writing. I want to take risks with building new relationships too. I want to open myself up to the possibilities I dream of, the opportunities I desire.

After all, luck is where preparation meets opportunity. We can create luck then, by doing the work and putting ourselves in a position to receive the opening we need. That requires risk-taking!

Additionally, I think I’ve begun to realise that risk-taking is simply not that scary. Or at least, not as frightening as we make it seem. Most of the time, people are glad to follow when someone steps out first, or relieved when someone puts their hand up to do something. How many times have you felt that same relief?

Recently I went for a job promotion, and got it pretty much straight away because no one else went for it. I was nervous, and hesitant to do so, but ultimately I decided that even if I was rejected it would work out. How many times do we count ourselves out before we even give ourselves a chance to try?

I hope this inspires you to try a few more things yourself, and embrace risk-taking a little more. After all, its risky to stay the same. I know I don’t want to stay where I am for the rest of my life, so I’ve got to step out at some point and in some way. Why not today?