Great Days
Chapter 19: Risk
 "To
win you have to risk loss." – Jean-Claude Killy
"Progress means taking risks, for you can't steal home and keep your foot on third base." – Herbert
V. Prochnow
"Take calculated risks. That is quite different from being rash." – Gen.
George Patton
"The chief danger in life is that you may take too many precautions." – Alfred
Adler
"Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others. Do the hardest thing on
earth for you. Act for yourself." – Katherine Mansfield
"Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain." – Ralph Waldo
Emerson
Most regrets that people have in life are regrets not of what they did but what they didn't
do. Because we aren't willing to risk, there are great ideas that are never acted upon, fascinating
people who are never met, adventures that are never taken, experiences that are never experienced.
We miss out on so many of life's opportunities because we are afraid. We're afraid to try, afraid
to ask, afraid to take the risk that is a necessary component of any bold action.
I have to admit that for most of my life, I've been a chicken, a wimp, a coward. In describing
myself, I would have to use all those unsavory words that characterize someone who's fearful,
overly cautious, and unwilling to take a chance. But I've discovered that some of the most rewarding
circumstances in life are those which have come when I've stepped out on a limb and taken a risk.
In the summer of 1992, my husband and I and two other couples were invited to be among a group
of adult guests at Frontier Ranch, a camp near Buena Vista, Colorado. This incredible facility
is sponsored by Young Life, a nondenominational Christian organization which ministers to teens.
As adult guests, we were encouraged to participate in all the activities that the campers were
doing horseback riding, hiking, and some other adventures which proved to be considerably
more challenging.
One of the scariest experiences for me was rappelling. Rappelling involves being strapped into
a harness and descending down the side of a mountain by controlling a series of ropes.
Quite frankly, I was scared to death. I'd known that this activity would be scheduled for sometime
during our week's stay but didn't know what day of the week it would be. Monday came and went no
rappelling. Tuesday still no rappelling. Tuesday night I couldn't sleep. I was convinced
that Wednesday would be the day. But again on Wednesday and Thursday, no rappelling...and no
sleep. (Maybe they'd forgotten. I could always hope.) And then came Friday. They hadn't forgotten.
Rappelling day had arrived.
There were twelve adults in our group, and I discovered that I wasn't the only one who had cowardly
tendencies. Two of the other women and one man announced that they weren't going to participate.They
were going to stay on the ground and take pictures. Great idea, I thought. I'm really good at
taking pictures! I'll stay with them!
If you think that teenagers are the only ones who are subjected to peer pressure, you're wrong.
The others in the group – my husband, my friends, and all the other brave (or foolish)
adults– began to pressure, ridicule, and harass me, and I finally agreed to go. I guess
I feared the humiliation more than the rappelling.
The nine of us began the long climb up the mountain. About a third of the way up, we found a
large wooden chest beside the trail, and inside the chest were helmets. For some reason I've
never been attracted to any activity which requires a helmet. For me, a helmet says, "This
is dangerous and hazardous to your health." Why was there no warning label from the surgeon
general? Foolishly, we donned the helmets and continued up the trail.
After a long and fairly difficult climb, we reached the top. The rappelling instructors were
waiting for us cheerful, confident. What was wrong with these people? Down on the ground
were the three photographers smiling and waving, and at this moment I understood why they looked
so happy. Would that I were with them!
The instructors gave us a basic lesson in rappelling how the ropes worked, what to do,
what not to do. Not enough instruction I felt sure, because all too soon it was time for the
dreaded "leap of faith." I'd learned from other experiences that the longer one waits,
the more anxious one becomes, so I decided to be among the first to volunteer. Besides, I wanted
to be done with it.
As I was getting into the harness, I thought about my family and friends. I wondered what dress
my husband would choose to bury me in and who would come to my funeral. I tried to be very logical.
My head told me that this had to be safe or the camp's lawyers wouldn't allow such an activity,
but that logical thinking didn't calm my fears.
All too soon, it was time. It was my turn. There would be no more delays and certainly no turning
back at this point. And so, with supporters on the mountain and photographers on the ground,
I smiled...took a step backwards off the edge of the cliff, and I was on my way.
What an experience! It was wonderful! Suddenly I was having the time of my life, bouncing off
the side of the mountain and swinging out the full extent of the rope. And as I came down, I
saw the photographers, the ones who hadn't dared, the ones who didn't risk...and I felt sorry
for them. They'd missed it. They'd missed an experience of a lifetime because they were afraid,
and they had let their fears rob them of an incredible opportunity.
That event was a turning point for me. It demonstrated the benefits we receive when we take
a risk. As a reminder, in my office I keep a picture of myself taken the day of that adventure,
and I look at it when I'm in need of encouragement to get out of my comfort zone and to try something
that's difficult or scary.
In September, 1993, I shared this story in a seminar that I presented to a group of executive
secretaries at a large insurance company in Missouri, and in 1994, I received an inspiring letter
from Robyn Roberts who had attended that seminar. Here's what Robyn told me:
"When you spoke at our company, you told us to take a risk, so I wanted to tell you what
you inspired me to do.
"As you know, in January, 1994, Los Angeles experienced a major earthquake. My company
asked for volunteers to go to L.A. as part of the catastrophe team to help settle the thousands
of insurance claims from the victims of that disaster. I have been married for fifteen of my
thirty-two years. I moved directly from my parents' care to that of my husband. I had never been
on my own. I had never been any further west than Kansas City, had never been on an airplane,
and had never been in a city the size of Los Angeles, but I volunteered to go.
"For six long weeks I drove the Pacific coast highway from San Juan Capistrano north to
Santa Barbara. I experienced aftershocks that rocked the air conditioner unit off my hotel wall.
On my own, I visited Pepperdine University and cruised to Catalina. I watched surfers, whales,
and dolphins and saw and experienced things that were totally new to me. When my husband and
my children visited me on my weekend off, they were amazed at my ability to maneuver the airport
traffic and to chauffeur them to Disneyland and Universal Studios.
"Needless to say, this experience was a big risk for me, but I feel terrific about myself!
I feel like a new, more confident, poised person! I have five classes left to complete my Bachelor
of Arts in Management, and I'm looking into many career possibilities with my company.
"Thanks for your advice about risk-taking. I am confident I will be a success at whatever
the future offers."
What a great letter! Robyn discovered, as you will, too, that when you step out and take a risk
in one area of your life, it will give you confidence to risk in others.
What do you want or need to do that requires a risk? I'd recommend that every day you do something
that makes you sweat something that's a little difficult, a little challenging, something
that involves mustering your courage and reaching out beyond your comfort zone. You may surprise
yourself at what you can do. Remember, turtles can't get anywhere without sticking out their
necks; maybe the same is true for us.
Am I always courageous? Have I changed from being a coward to a dare-devil? Do I take the leap
every time with no hesitation or fear? Certainly not. There are many times when I'm afraid to
risk. I'm unwilling to chance loss or embarrassment or failure. But nine times out of ten, when
I muster my courage and am willing to risk, I'm rewarded with feelings of self-confidence to
take on other challenges. The same can happen for you.
Excerpt from Great Days: 50 Ways to Add Energy, Enthusiasm, & Enjoyment to your Life.
Copyright, 1997.
Other Sample Chapters
Chapter 9: Laugh at Yourself
Chapter 13: Get Better at Something
Chapter 50: Look for the "High Point" of the
Day
Add
to Cart Tax-Exempt: Add
to Cart |
