I wanted to share an observation I had recently. I've been looking at the difference in attitude people have to risk, and how it controls their life.
We all have an idea of how much risk we feel comfortable with, and, it is very unusual to be able to step outside your personal comfort zone in relation to it. That is, unless something happens that makes you re-assess what the relevant risk is.
For example, back in January 2001, I would have never had contemplated ditching my career (that I had worked very hard on for 15 years), and just quit my job without ANY form of income to pay the bills.
Yet, on 1st December 2001 - I did exactly that. Because something changed. I realized that my sanity and my family needed me more than the perceived risky position I would put myself in by doing so.
However, I don't recommend having a near-nervous breakdown in order to change your attitude to risk!
Quite often, what we feel as 'security' means nothing of the sort. The are many people who believed that they had secure jobs, yet end up losing them when the company they work for gets taken over, or the state of the economy changes.
We are conditioned to work ourselves to the bone now in order to live comfortably in retirement - yet, who KNOWS what's going to happen when we get there? (Unfortunately, there are some who don't even make it that far to enjoy their hard-earned 'prize').
I know that you are on certainly on the right track because YOU want to better yourself, don't you?
YOU realize that standing still means that in effect - you're left behind.
YOU realize that, unless you make some changes in what you do NOW - then you will be at the mercy of other peoples' decisions for the rest of your life.
That's why risk is something that you need to change your attitude towards. Now...I'm not for a moment recommending that you quit your job like I did - just to see if you can force yourself to make things happen.
What I am suggesting is that you look at things a little differently.
For example, I have a friend who is a multi-millionaire real estate investor. He has millions to his name in debt. In fact, he has gone on record to say that he LOVES being in debt - because it allows him to buy (and benefit from) real estate.
Yet, if you're like most of us - you look forward to the day when your mortgage is paid off, or when you can get that zero balance on those credit cards.
I was certainly like that up until the last year or so once I realized that I was viewing certain forms of debt as 'risk' when, in fact, all it is other peoples (banks) money that they are lending to me to allow me to make MORE than I would have if I had my own!
Of course, it helps if you know what you're doing, and not just borrowing to fuel dreams instead of following systems...but that's for another day.
What I am trying to get across to you is that, so what if something makes you feel a little uncomfortable - if it is bringing the best out in you.
I knew that sharing my life with YOU was a risk when I first started out back in 2001, but thanks to doing so, I now have many friends whom I've never met who know me, and like me.
Without taking that risk - I wouldn't be still writing today, as I would have talked myself out of it by now!
So...look inside yourself and question whether what you view as 'risk' is perhaps just a mirror of your self-belief that's holding you back.
(Read that sentence again - it's a very powerful thing to remember!)
Once you start to believe in what you are capable of, then you will truly understand why most risks are entirely within your control - and THAT will change your life!
So...what do YOU currently think about the risks in YOUR life?
Any comments welcome as always here...
Posted by vurnumg
