I’ve been frantically and cluelessly spinning in circles for months: emotionally and physically. I find it terrifying yet intriguing that every day holds a different amount of uncertainty and you never know how much an event in a specific day can change your life forever. Recently, I encountered a special day of my own that I will always hold on to, January 23. I smacked head first into a wall of uncertainty that, little did I know at the time, held so much happiness for me. The most complicated part of this all was that in order to attain this happiness, I would have to completely throw my world upside down, completely change my routine and daily habits of what I had been used to for the past year and a half of my life in order to simply take a peek at this glowing opportunity of happiness.

For many people, change can be terrifying. I, personally, am especially terrified of any out of the ordinary obstacle that can throw me for a loop. I am an extremely organized person with a color coded Kate Spade planner that acts as the bible and key to my life. I know how to block out distractions like it’s my profession; nothing ever screwed me up… Until that day.

I’m not the most religious person known to man, but I definitely would consider myself to have a strong faith. I believe that God will never give you an obstacle in life that you are not strong enough to handle, and I knew that on January 23rd, was the start of yet another one of His tests (and btw, I didn’t study). Luckily, this test was short, but the thought process would be draining and tediously drawn out. It required me evaluating myself: my feelings (most importantly my happiness), my actions, my future… all of it. It was a completely overwhelming process with so many elements to take into consideration especially knowing that if I screwed up and chose the wrong answer, I would fail.

I figured I had two options: to sit and spin my thoughts into an insane web of confusion or take a chance and go with my gut feeling as to what I believe the best answer is. At this point, it doesn’t matter how smart or how logical the people taking the test around me are; my happiness was at stake and I knew at that moment, that this was too big of a deal to not trust my instincts. I had to go with my gut and take the risk even with the thought of potentially regretting my decision evilly lingering in the back of my mind.

As I turn in my test, the only thought running through my mind is: I hope this is truly the right decision for me. I’m definitely not one to take risks, but this one felt right. There was something about this choice that lit a spark in me and sent shocking electric waves up and down my spine when I selected it. As devastating as it was to stand out from the crowd and make the rare choice to turn my world upside down and completely mangle my routine and daily habits, I knew it was a risk that had to be taken.

The lesson I learned from having to choose between a routine and my personal happiness: take the risk. You already can predict how your life is going to go, day in and day out, if you stay within your comfortable boundaries. There are so many new and refreshing opportunities out there in this world just waiting to be unwrapped and discovered by you. Not everyone is going to love you. Whether you are choosing between something as significant as a career path or a lover or whether or not to try the sushi in the cafeteria, take the risk. What’s the worst that could happen? You fail? You experience some heartbreak? You didn’t enjoy the outcome? Let me ask you this…. would you rather live a life full of ‘what if’s?’ or ‘oh wells’… Take the risk and chase your happiness.