On Risks

I'm doing some research on taking risks for the Future Thinking program I participate in.

I found this video of Diablo Cody, screenwriter of "Juno" and Ellen Page, the lead actress in the film on taking risks.

I love what Cody says about her philosophy of risk: "I'd rather fail at doing something off the wall than succeed at something pedestrian."

For me, I notice that sometimes I can be risk-averse. Because I'm afraid. Because I don't want to fail. Because I don't want to look foolish.

But I also know that averting risk means playing it safe. And playing it safe means no growth, no expansion and no opportunity to stretch yourself into bigger things.

One of my favorite quotes is from Anais Nin:  

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

I'm learning that taking the risk and moving beyond my comfort zone allows me to bloom more boldly into my life. And I'm beginning to see risk as a friend who is challenging me onto bigger and bolder ways of being in the world.

Tell me, where in your life you are ready to take a risk?