WELLBEING

Is playing it safe holding you back? Try smart risks

26 July, 2024 . 0

Always playing it safe and feeling stuck on the hamster wheel of life? Discover the transformative benefits of taking smart risks.

We’re raised to “always be careful” and “protect ourselves” – and while this approach has a place in our lives, experts say it can also be limiting if we always stay within our lane because we’re fearful of tripping up.

“A lot of people are very risk averse and stay in their comfort zones, but you’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re using that formula for life,” psychologist Dr Marny Lishman says.

“If you have things in mind that you want to achieve and you don’t try, you can end up feeling a lot of regret later in life.

“You miss out on the learning experience and the personal growth that comes with taking risks, and that can lead to feelings of bitterness and resentment.”

The benefits of risky behaviour

Healthy habit coach Loz Antonenko says risk can help teach us what we are capable of.

“If you listen to your gut and make an informed decision about something, risks can pay off and yield great rewards,” Loz, author of Get the F*ck Unstuck, says.

Loz says this is true even when our risk-taking doesn’t reap the intended result.

“There’s a silver lining for everything,” she says.

“For me, risk has helped me understand that we can learn from our failures.

“I talk about failure as feedback, I call it failing forwards – it’s a stepping stone to refining your approaches and strategies.”

Dr Lishman says taking risks also helps build resilience.

“This helps you navigate when the world disrupts or you go through a life adversity, if you’ve got previous experience in taking risks and getting through it, you’ve built your psychological muscle to be able to deal with life’s ups and downs,” Dr Lishman says.

How to be a good risk taker

Dr Lishman says the benefits of risk-taking stem from making smart, calculated decisions, rather than being reckless.

“A smart risk is a thoughtful step, you’re conscious about it, it’s more of a proactive risk,” she says.

“You’ve thought about what might go wrong, and have a contingency plan.

“You’ve already sat in the worst-case scenario and feel comfortable-ish that you’ll still be okay (in that event).”

Reckless risks are more reactive and spur of the moment, Loz says.

“Recklessness is driven by adrenalin and is having zero regard for the consequences,” she says.

How to open yourself to smart risk-taking

Pursuing new opportunities and venturing into unfamiliar territory can be daunting. Here are some tips to build your confidence to try.

Evaluate the risk

Not all risks are created equal, says Loz.

“Weigh the potential benefits against the downsides,” she says.

“Ask yourself, ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’ and ‘what’s the best that could happen’?”

You don’t need to be all or nothing

Testing your boundaries doesn’t have to require dramatic change all at once, Dr Lishman says.

“For example, if you want to pursue a start-up, you don’t necessarily have to quit your job – you might consider going part-time and seeing how it goes,” she says.

Practise getting outside your comfort zone

“Challenge yourself with things you’ve never tried,” Dr Lishman says.

“You can start small like learning a language or starting a six-week gym challenge – these can be hard if you’re not familiar with them and can help you build that psychological muscle to take bigger risks.”

Have a contingency plan

Loz says having a back-up is critical for being prepared to take risks.

“If you don’t have a plan B, you’ll never start plan A,” she says.

And, Dr Lishman points out, sometimes plan B turns out to be better.

Surround yourself with support

“Build a network of mentors and peers who encourage you to take bold steps, offer guidance and give you some emotional buoyancy,” Loz says.

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Written by Claire Burke.