If you want to live a life of passion, then it’s time for you to take more risks so you leave no regrets.
What we fear most is regret about what we didn’t do in life.
Each time you play it safe, you’re moving away from your authentic self and potentially from dreams for your life.
You get to decide on a daily basis whether you make decisions from a place of fear or go for what you want most.
What you focus on — your intention — is what you create in your life.
This is why it’s critical to be intentional.
“Death is not what we fear most,” says John Izzo, author of The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die. “What we fear most is not having lived to the fullest extent possible – to come to the end of our life and think, ‘I wish I had….'”
Izzo asked 200 people what they would want, if they could go back to their younger selves, one of the most common answers he found is they said they would take more risks.
Think about your life so far and ask yourself these questions:
- What has brought you the greatest happiness so far in your life?
- What are your regrets?
- What do you wish you had learned sooner?
- What mattered and turned out not to matter?
Each of us wants to feel as if we have lived our lives fully.
We want to feel as if our lives have meaning; we want to know that it mattered that we were here on this earth — that we had a sense of purpose.
I believe that true happiness is found by giving outside ourselves — forming a connection to something greater than ourselves.
Joseph Campbell said, “I think that what we’re seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical place will have resonance within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive.”
Learn A New Way to Make Life Decisions
Learning how to make decisions about risk is one way to live your life to your fullest potential.
Here’s a novel way to begin to make life decisions:
Imagine your future self: you are sitting in a rocking chair on your front porch. Ask yourself, “Will I wish I made this decision?”
Choose the path that makes the best story.
Ask yourself, “When I am old, will I regret that I made this choice?”
When faced with a tough decision, ask your future self if this is a story you want to tell later in life.
- Would this make a good, adventurous story?
- Would you feel courageous looking back at this decision?
- Was there an element of risk involved?
Meaning is about a connection to something greater than yourself.
It’s about not being alone and connected to others. I call this your higher calling.
What is calling you?
Have you dismissed it or have you answered the call?
What legacy do you want to leave?
These are important questions to ask yourself. My personal goal is to explore these questions now while I have plenty of time to take on more exciting adventures in my life.
Now it’s your turn, do you take risks when weighing options or decisions?
Are you thinking about meaning, purpose, happiness and service? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments below.
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Since I have often feared the workplace, whenever I am in a place where I have to make a decision regarding work, I often choose the option that feels safest. A few times, however, when I have felt more courageous, I have chosen an option that excited me. Having struggled with anxiety issues since childhood (I’m now 48), I have mostly chosen the safe (and often dull) paths for myself. Over the past few years, I have been taking a look at this part of myself and noticing how and when I could be more courageous and take more risks. I would really love to take part in a wilderness retreat that would challenge my safety mindedness.
Guylaine – thank you for writing. I too have suffered from anxiety my entire life. I’ve learned to work with it.
Soon I will be filming a kundalini breathing practice called Breathe of Fire. You don’t do this if you are in your cycle, pregnant or have high blood pressure. Look this up on Youtube and see what you find. Breath work would be beneficial. Plus the visualization practice I mentioned in the other comment. xo
Great post! Fear is something I struggle with when it comes to “putting myself out there” and being vulnerable, particularly when it comes to my passion — singing. I also opt for the safe route. It takes an unbelievable amount of courage to stand up in front of people and sing. I’m in a choir and am much more comfortable singing with a group (even a small one) than going it alone. That said, I would love to be brave enough to do open mic again. It’s like I want the mic and I’m afraid of the mic at the same time. I tried it a couple times a year or so ago and then had to give it up because I could no longer afford singing lessons and paying an accompaniest. I recently started taking an occasional lesson again, but am not confident enough to “wing it.” My teacher is asking me to sing in the student recital but that strikes fear deep inside. Eeek! I did that once or twice and my heart was pounding and I couldn’t look at the audience. I felt like I was like having a panic attack. On a more positive note (pun intended), I auditioned for a solo in the choir last week and that was also waaaaaay outside my comfort zone. I was so nervous, but I got through it and am proud that I did it. I haven’t gotten the results yet, so keep your fingers crossed. I know it will be scary as hell to do the solo if I get it, but at least I’ll have the choir behind me.
Hello Dawn and thank you for writing. Here’s something to consider – the more fear you experience means that this is on your path – you are supposed to be doing this. This is a gift / talent you have. I believe we are meant to use our gifts and talents in this lifetime and move through all obstacles (fear + rejection). That is our lesson among how we handle defining moments or catalytic events. So this is all perfect. Can you find this visualization on iTunes and start visualizing you singing and being confident? It’s Pink Bubble technique by Shakti Gawain. It’s a short one but one that has helped me in a miraculous way and my clients as well. Taking small steps toward singing is your path. I hope this helps. Keep me posted.
Thanks for the follow-up, encouragement and tip, Sherold. To one of your points: I’m not afraid of writing and I’m a heck of a better writer than I am a singer, so I don’t prescribe to the idea that just because you’re afraid of something means that’s what you should be doing in your life. I’m familiar with positive visualization and it’s not really my cup of tea. I found out today I didn’t get the solo. Of course, I’m disappointed but am not dwelling on it. Onward …
Hi Dawn – I meant to say that if you had a strong desire to sing and you had a lot of fear – then I would say that it was something you were meant to do. Have you ever considered taking an Improv class? That is something that would help you with fear. If you are passionate about singing, keep taking small steps to expand your comfort zone. Keep trying and looking for positive evidence (encouragement) that you are meant to use your voice. xo