Risk Going Too Far
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You’ll never seize greatness by playing it safe.
The Secondhand Inspiration Project begins with a motivational quote and ventures wherever the creative path meanders.
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.” -T.S. Eliot
Taking chances is a vital component of achieving your goals.
If you avoid all risks, there is a high probability that you will eventually fail. By focusing time and energy on negative outcomes, you will talk yourself out of chasing what you want to accomplish.
Trying new things in the face of clear consequences will not only bring numerous opportunities but can erase any doubts you may have about yourself.
To be exact, it will help you to grow and evolve as a person. It will bolster your skills and prepare you to become your future self. And you want the future version of yourself to kick more butt than your current self, right?
If you stretch the boundaries of what you believe is possible, you will be able to fathom how far you really can go. It will become easier for you to understand your abilities.
Please don’t take me the wrong way — I am not advocating living life as some reckless dumbass. Obviously, there are dicey outcomes you should sidestep around. But do not deter yourself completely from taking risks, either.
Consider taking intelligent chances as part of your personal development or as a tool to help renovate your life. Going for paydirt despite the possibility of failure can play a significant role in building confidence and is essential to finding success.
Moreover, it can also deliver a boost of pride and accomplishment. Successful risk-taking plays a crucial role in bolstering self-esteem. Also, it can push you to learn skills and hacks which you wouldn’t have discovered otherwise.
Another side effect is building emotional resilience. Developing that additional strength will deliver you to the doorstep of even greater goals you cannot even fathom today. If you are up for taking risks, it will increase your mental fortitude.
The road to reaching your full abilities may seem perilous. But if you can intellectually armor yourself and push forward into new and unknown territory despite short odds, you’ll likely be rewarded with personal greatness.
Adrian S. Potter — the antisocial extrovert — is an author, engineer, consultant, and public speaker. When he’s not busy silently judging your beer selection and record collection, he writes poetry, short fiction, and articles on various subjects, including creativity, leadership, and personal growth. Adrian is the winner of the 2022 Lumiere Review Prose Award and the author of the poetry book Everything Wrong Feels Right (Portage Press). Visit him at http://adrianspotter.com/.
