5 Questions You Need To Ask Before Taking A Risk

“I think there’s a difference between a gamble and a calculated risk.” – Edmund H. North

Taking a risk can be a scary thing, no matter what type of risk it is. And that fear alone can paralyze you before you even take your first step.

You’ll tell yourself crippling stories and make up all the excuses in the world to play it safe. Yet you know playing it safe will get you nothing but safe.

That’s understandable. So to ease off your fears and worries there are 5 questions I want you to ask yourself.

I guarantee when you do, you’ll be ready to make that jump. And you’ll know whether it’s within your best interests.

1. What’s the worst that could happen?

I don’t want you thinking illogically and emotionally about this. I want you to ask this logically and make sense of it.

What’s the worst that could happen If you take the risk? What’s the worst case scenario and is it bad enough to not take the risk?

In most cases the risks you’re afraid of taking aren’t as bad as your fears might suggest. But just to be sure, look at the pros and cons of the risk. For example –

Cons:

You’ll end up homeless.
Your life will be at risk.

Pros:

It’ll help you achieve your goals.
It’ll help you better support your family.

If the cons massively outweigh the pros than it might not be worth the risk. But If it’s the opposite, then the only thing left to do is take action.

Facts matter.

2. Am I fully committed?

“Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach.” – Tony Robbins

It’s easy to take a risk without asking yourself whether you’re fully committed or not. But It’s a priority question you need to ask.

If you’re not fully committed to do whatever it takes and follow through with your decision, you’re better off avoiding the risk.

Especially If the risk you’re going to take is a BIG one. Like quitting a job, starting a business, raising a family or changing your career.

Not being fully committed to the risk is a risk in its self.

If you take the risk with a half-hearted approach, you won’t just be wasting your time, you’ll end up disappointing yourself.

Treat the risk the same way you’d treat a marriage or a heart felt promise.

3. What am I willing to give up?

“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.” – Jim Rohn

The truth is when you take risks in hopes of achieving something, you have to give something up to get it.

What do I mean by that? Lets put it this way. For a start:

You’re going to have to give up your time.
Give up your current habits.
Give up your skepticism.
Give up your limiting beliefs.

And so on. Taking a risk basically means doing something you haven’t done before. And doing something you’re scared of.

If you plan on doing something you’ve yet to do, to get something you’ve yet to get, you’ll have to give up your old ways of doing things.

There’s no way around that fact. You can’t escape from the truth no matter how fast you run from it. So it’s best to face it head on and make things happen.

4. Will this change my life for the better?

“If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.” – Geena Davis

When you’re in the moment and you’re thinking about the risk, fear overpowers you. Causing you to over think things.

But when you get logical about it you might realize the risk may change your life for the better.

It could have so many positives, benefits and good things attached to it that it would make no sense to avoid the risk.

But you can’t see or notice that If you’re in the fear state of mind. So get logical and ask yourself – will this change my life for the better?

The answers to your question might surprise you. And for the better.

5. What’s stopping me from taking a risk?

“You got to be brave. If you feel something, you’ve really got to risk it.” – Mel Brooks

The final question you’ve got to ask yourself is – what’s stopping me from taking a risk?

It’s likely those close to you are stopping you from taking a risk. And not because they’re actually stopping you, but because you’re allowing them to stop you.

And because you care too much about what they might think about your decision. If It bothers you that much, try getting them on the same page.

If you can’t get them on the same page, then take action regardless.

If people around you aren’t the reason you’re not taking the risk, then figure out what IS the reason. Then make sense of it and make your decision.

Has this post helped you? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!