Success in life is dependent on how willing you are to take risks. Without risks, you may never leave your current status and do novel things. However, in your quest to break into new fields and reap rewards, you must be sure to take smart risks only. It’s one thing to want to venture into risky endeavors, and it’s another to be smart about it. Taking smarter risks gives you control of the narrative to a large extent and makes you better prepared for failure or success. Of course, many people may call you crazy when you begin, but that must not stop you. Only courageous people can be risk-takers. This article teaches you how to overcome fear and take smarter risks.
How to Overcome Fear and Start Taking Smarter Risks
Embrace Failure
You can overcome your fear and take smarter risks when you embrace failure. The fear of failure can be quite crippling, and it can make you abandon your passions and dreams because you will most likely need to take risks to pursue your dreams. Therefore, getting rid of the fear of failure will help you get started so you can begin taking smarter risks. Meanwhile, failure is good and necessary. It teaches you what to avoid and how you can do things better. Failure brings you close to your goal(s).
Almost everyone who has ever built something great failed at first. However, they improved and perfected their product or service with each iteration. You may need to make mistakes and need help understanding what to do better. Failure also helps to keep you grounded and grateful. Therefore, you must embrace it and take the necessary risks for a fulfilling life. You should also not think you are worthy or capable of success. You deserve it when you put in the work.
Reject Negativity
Another way to overcome fear and take smarter risks is to reject negativity. Most people around you will not understand what you are building, so they may ridicule you. Others, out of concern, may try to talk you out of it. However, you will be doing yourself a great disservice if you listen to them. Several inventors were ridiculed or rejected when they started working on their inventions. Friends, family, and fellow scientists called some of their work impractical, too expensive, or ridiculous.
However, life is easier today because those people didn’t give in to self-doubts. Instead, they overcame the fear of ridicule and took smarter risks. People like Alexander Graham (the telephone), Karl Benz (the automobile), the Wright Brothers (airplanes), and Thomas Edison (the light bulb) were regarded as dumb and impractical fools at first. Don’t allow fear, jealousy, or overprotectiveness of other people to stop you from doing what you want. Reject self-doubt, improve yourself, and take smarter risks.
Calculate The Costs
It’s easier to push out fear and take smarter risks when you have gone through the situation and are prepared. While it is good to take risks, you must be aware of potential gaps, troubles, and uncontrollable situations that can throw you off. For example, leaving your job without backup or starting a business without adequate preparation can have serious repercussions and will only make you susceptible to failure.
However, calculating the risks before starting anything makes you bolder and ready to act. It also helps you avoid poor choices so you can take smarter risks. You can only take smarter risks when you have the right knowledge and information, so always research before you take off.
Embracing failure and success and rejecting negativity and self-doubt will help you take smarter risks. You can also take smarter risks when you do your research. This will help you feel more confident as you take risks.
#Clique, have you ever taken a smart risk? How did it go, and what lessons or gains did you make after doing so? Let us know in the comments.
