Risk seems scary, right?
As a part-time Pilates instructor, one of the things I tell my students is that we can’t get too comfortable because growth isn’t developed in our comfort zone. We must get uncomfortable, get messy, dig in. That is where we grow.
“If you don’t risk anything, you risk everything” is one of my favorite quotes and I keep it just below the surface in my day-to-day.
A recent class caused me to reflect on the connection between risk and empowerment which, I believe, comes through vulnerability and knowing yourself. I shared with my class that I became a Pilates instructor about a year ago, becoming vulnerable and “risking” a new challenge at 35 years old. It took me back to another point in my life journey that involved a significant risk but offered a huge reward.
I took a job from a virtual interview and moved to a whole new city in a whole new state. I didn’t know a single person but put my feet on the ground, ready to grind it out. When I took that job, I moved in just a few weeks. I knew I was risking a lot…I was leaving behind a whole life because I wanted better for myself. I wanted growth and new adventures.
This expands over everything in our lives, doesn’t it? Whether professional or personal, my favorite quote resonates: “If you don’t risk anything, you risk everything.”
To grow we must give up what no longer serves us. It can seem scary, but on the other side of scary there is incredible possibility.
I challenge you to take a step into the unknown, get uncomfortable, get messy, and risk losing some things in order to gain so much more. I promise it’ll be worth it.