Life, intrinsically, is risky.
Why? Because life asks us to make decisions, and when you make a decision, you have to ask yourself if you are going to do what is comfortable or if you’re going to step out of your comfort zone, wear your heart on your sleeve, and go for it without the guarantee that it will all work out.
It is risky to put yourself out there knowing you’ve been hurt before. It is risky to apply to dozens of internships. It is risky to wear that dress you love but are not sure you can pull off. These things are all risky because there’s no saying that they’re all going to work out.
Maybe you put yourself out there only to get let down again. Maybe you apply to the internships and don’t get one call back, and you feel extremely discouraged. Maybe you wear that dress and feel less than confident the entire time and wish you didn't. All of these things may, and very well could, happen. But wouldn’t it break your heart more knowing that you didn’t even have the tenacity to give it a try?
Because maybe you put yourself out there and end up really connecting with the people around you. Maybe you apply for the internships and actually land the one of your dreams. Maybe you wear that dress and get tons of compliments. But there’s one simple fact: you will never know what could have become if you surrender to the fear of taking a risk, and instead let yourself be bullied by your fears into an existence of mediocrity. What if the risk you take ends up being the best adventure of your life?
Obviously, I am not suggesting to be totally irresponsible, reckless, and get yourself into an undesirable situation and blame it on 'taking a risk.' I am simply saying that, if there's something that you feel very passionately about, and you're hesitating because you're scared of being let down or feeling like you are not good enough, then you should go for it. You won't regret it.
The decisions that we make are what make us who we are, and as difficult as it can be, I hope that you decide to understand the power of your decision to take a risk, even if it doesn’t work out. You could only be one tiny decision to ‘try’ away from some of the best days of your life.
