Risk

By Pastor Paul Gauche

Today’s Word: ‘Risk’ as in… what keeps us from accomplishing our dreams is our fear of taking risks. But what if risk and failure were all part of the equation?

Most of us have dreams, desires, and ideas that help us bring some good to each day, something better to each moment, and our best to each other as we encounter the world around us. So what is that for you? Is it crafting a long-overdue letter? Is it volunteering at a local school, running for office, or writing a book? We’ve all got lists of dreams, desires, and ideas just aching to come to fruition.

Unfortunately, we’ve also all got a list of things that hold us back. We call them barriers. These are the internal voices and inner critics that prevent us from taking steps toward accomplishing our dreams, desires, and ideas. Barriers taunt us from the edges. “It’ll never work!” “You won’t follow through!” It’s not a worthy idea!” The inner critics seem to drone on forever. But what actually keeps us from accomplishing our dreams is our fear of taking risks. Most of the time, the fear of failure keeps us from accomplishing our dreams.

But risk takers know this: they can learn from their failures and make appropriate adjustments.

So let me ask you this: what would happen if you took the risk that would get you closer to starting (not to mention finishing!) your book? What would the courageous leap toward crafting that long-overdue letter to a friend feel like? What’s your next best step toward volunteering at a local school or running for office?

Here’s my challenge for you. First, write down your dream, desire, or idea. Then make a list of the failures you anticipate along the way. Then, list the joys you anticipate having when you accomplish your goal. Last, how does the joy outweigh the risk?

Take the risk, make the leap, try the new thing, learn from failure, then adjust. It’s a risk. You could fail. But then, you know this: risk and failure are part of the equation.

#100days50words

Paul Gauche is the Pastor of Life Transitions at Prince of Peace. His posts are part of his #100days50words project, where he blogs about a different word each week. You can follow his project on Instagram (@pgauche) or his blog, Thriving Rhythms.