Your Superpower = Your Will to Take Risks
Say goodbye to your comfort zones and do the daring.
“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” ~ William Faulkner
Last year in November, I lost sight of the sore by quitting my 9–5 job, only to try my luck with my passion — writing .
And yes! Faulkner was so damn right.
One year later, after exploring the new horizons — writing articles, blog posts, SEO content, satire, and so on — now I feel way better than what my 9–5 job would make me feel about myself and life.
I took the risk, left my comfort zones, and entered into a world I hardly had any clue about. Soon, I started feeling the excitement of doing lots of trial and error and getting some small wins, and the big ones.
I found the new horizons full of freedom, time, money, and happiness.
Now tell me, how many of you are residing inside your monotonous bubbles and trying your best to avoid life-changing risks? How many of you are just living a mundane, copy-paste life and ignoring the opportunities life offers. And how many of you are slowly killing your potential to pursue what you always wanted to pursue?
I think the number is huge.
Your brain is always there to convince you that you should not take risks. It tells you that risks are scary. And it wants you to play everything safe and easy. Your brain is afraid of uncertain events, challenges and always feels relaxed when everything is calm and less exciting.
That’s why whenever you want to change something in your life, your brain instantly comes up with tons of bad/negative thoughts, and consequently, you give up.
For example, if you want to change your job, your brain will instantly show you hundreds of reasons why you shouldn’t quit and be adventurous. What if you don’t find the right job you are looking for — what if your interview goes wrong — what if your new working environment may turn into a disaster — what if you end up working under a bad boss, and so on.
Just try to remember how many great ideas you’ve thrown out of the window thinking that they are not for you? How many life-changing opportunities did you reluctantly see passing by just because you were afraid of changing your status quo and embracing the risks?
Admit it or not — many a time, your brain is your worst enemy. And you must be brave enough to ignore what your brain suggests. Instead you must listen to what logic, emotion, and critical thinking whisper into your ears.
People get intimidated to take risks as they think they are not brave enough to handle new experiences or changes. They often underestimate their capacity and lack confidence. In many cases, people overthink future failures or unwanted consequences too.
A study by Virgin Media finds that 6 in 10 British people are afraid of taking risks, while 45% admit that they like to sit back and watch while others take the risks instead.
It’s understandable that you look for others who have already taken the risks that you are planning to take. Because nobody wants to be alone and afraid on his way. Even when people fail, they want others to fail as well — just to feel that they are not alone.
But remember, people who gather some courage and take risks are the ones who win in the long run. Their life becomes exciting, eventful , and meaningful.
If you are not happy with your current job, analyze properly to identify the reasons behind it. Now, desperately search for a better opportunity and then switch. Yes — it will take a huge amount of your time and effort — but, for god’s sake, don’t just sit idle, underestimating your capability and being fearful of new changes.
If things are not working out with your spouse, be open and let the other person know what’s happening inside your mind. Discuss and try hard to get back on track. If nothing works despite your honest trying, then take the risk of being separated. Remember, it’s better to live alone in peace than together in a bad relationship.
Maybe your dream is to explore the world, experience different cultures, and fill your stomach with thousands of exciting events. What will you do? Take the risk, save some money, convince your family, and step into the unknown. If you sit idle thinking that it’s too scary or what other people will think, you will definitely regret it in the end.
Maybe you always wanted to be a public speaker. You wanted to help others with your inspiring words. But at present, you work in a bank and calculate other people’s money and premiums. Once again — take the risk of being what you really are by following your passion. Slowly start networking with the same-minded people and search for opportunities to grow. Make mistakes and learn from them. Then when you feel confident enough, quit your job if necessary and be the person you always wanted to be. Inspire the world with your thoughts and words.
Your life could have been different. It could have been more exciting and less mundane. But your reluctance to take big risks made all the difference. You’ve forgotten that your ability to take risks is your superpower.
You’ve forgotten the proverb — no risk, no gain.
The path will not be easy. But I can guarantee that the reward you will get in the end will compensate for everything. I know this because — one year ago if I didn’t take the risk of quitting my job to give my passion a shot, I would still be the same 9–5 guy at a boring cubicle doing the same boring job, and someone else would live the life I always wanted to live.
So, my suggestion is — identify your opportunities and take calculative risks. Don’t let fear devour your courage and enthusiasm for something new and exciting.
Thank you for reading.
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If you want to read more of my writings, do check out the following articles.
- Five Subtle Signs That You Are Destroying Your Life
- Why I Quit My Job While Others Were Busy Saving Theirs
- How ‘Listening to Others’ Can Elevate Your Personality
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