Is it Time to Take a Risk?

Last week I wrote about our trip to Nashville back in 2014, which was a wonderful time for Kathy and me.

 

We spent the Saturday evening, walking the main drag, taking in all the sights and sounds of Music City. So many options we hardly knew where to start.

At one point on our date night, we approached a corner and looked down a very dark street. The only thing we saw were flashing lights from numerous police cars way in the distance.

I said, “Let’s go down there and check it out!” To which Kathy immediately declined, preferring the safety of the main street. After some coaxing we cautiously made our way toward the lights.

But long before reaching them, we stumbled on a club…the B.B. King Club. Of course I’d heard of B.B. King but had no idea about the club. There were people milling around outside and  we noticed a sign saying a $5 cover charge…we looked at each other and decided to go in.

We walked in, paid the fee and were greeted by a kind host who ushered us to a table. We were close to the stage with a full band playing some incredible blues. The drummer was black, probably close to 300 hundred pounds, in a white tux, and also  the lead singer. The band was awesome and we were captivated by it all. We looked around and realized that we were part of a very small minority of white people in a crowd of hundreds.

But we didn’t care, and no one made us feel out of place. We just loved it!

Here’s my point.

We had to take a risk to experience something new and exciting. We could have stayed on the main streets, where the crowds were, and played it safe that night; and to be fair, Kathy was quite scared at first. But instead, we stepped out of our comfort zone and were pleasantly surprised and added a wonderful experience and memories to our life.

So let me ask you the obvious question…

What risk do you want to take, but are afraid to? 

It’s something you probably think about often, and talk about with someone close to you. It’s also something that elevates your blood pressure and causes you to review all the reasons the risk isn’t worth it.

But unless, its’ putting the pink slip to your new car on black 12, or investing all your savings on penny stocks, it might be worth considering.

One of my life coaches described me as a “calculating risk-taker” I like that. Sure consider various aspects of your decision, like timing, resources, support etc; consider your goals and values, and get some input from wise counsel, but at some point you have to take a step toward the adventure and take a risk.

We stepped into that dark street and enjoyed the most wonderful time.

By the way, my new book comes out in 3 days, and some would say it is a risk to spend so much time on something that others may or may not like. I guess that’s true. But I hope Vantage Point: Five Perspectives to Live a Better Story will be helpful for people, especially those who feel stuck, who want more out of life, but are unsure where to start, who want more meaning and purpose.

I’m sure there will be some who don’t like my book and may even give a poor review online. But that’s the risk.

I could have played it safe and kept the book inside, but I chose to share it with the world.

What are you keeping inside? And is it time for you to take a risk?

Feeling stuck? Not sure what to do next? Your life not where you want it to be? Life coaching can help. Contact me for a free  45-minute discovery call. Let’s talk.