Welcome to Part #3 where you are continuing your exploration of what it means to have courage, take risks and reap the rewards.
As you discovered in Part #2, taking chances often has a negative connotation because it implies danger, anxiety, worry, and possible loss.
But taking chances also has a positive side because often the reward is greater than the risk.
Most of us are pretty good at not taking dumb risks, but many times we also miss the smart risks that come our way.
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Let’s take a closer look now at this idea of risk, the second element of our “Courage, Risk, Rewards” approach to taking chances.
To understand risk better, let’s look at why you avoid it, and how you can feel empowered to take more chances in the future.
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Famous race car driver Mario Andretti once said, "If things seem under control, you’re just not going fast enough."
Before we can stretch out of our comfort zones and be willing to take new chances in life, we need to first look at why people avoid risk.
There are many reasons why people avoid taking risks, and 5 that I want to share with you. They are:
1) Failure | I might not get what I’m aiming for. |
2) Exposure | If it doesn’t work out, it might reflect negatively on me. |
3) Embarrassment | If I push for something, and it doesn’t work out, I could be judged by others. |
4) Rejection | If the risk fails, I could be rejected by others. |
5) Loss | If I try something new or different I might have to give up what's familiar. |
Client Activity
Next, in the next section take three minutes to answer the questions in Part #3.1 about “Why we Avoid Risk?”
Then return to this module to complete Part #3.2 (you'll also find the downloadable version of Worksheet 3.1 below)
Part #3.1: Why We Avoid Risks
“Taking a new step, uttering a new word, is what people fear most.” ~Fyodor Dostoevsky
Which of the 5 reasons resonates most with me?
- Failure
- Exposure
- Embarrassment
- Rejection
- Loss
What are some other reasons I avoid risk?
Part #3 Section 2 What Supports Risk Taking
