You just simply have to take risks in order to receive rewards. I am sorry but there is just no divine presence anywhere waiting to bestow a boon on you for doing nothing, risking nothing, venturing nowhere. This would be the time where we fall off into a theological argument regarding divine grace – but even with that religious view – you have to realize that there is a base level requirement to demonstrate your talent, exercise your agency, and fulfill your mission (whatever that maybe). Unless you think this is all a predetermined show and we are just puppets on a string, and in that case, party on my friend. My personal opinion – God is like a Venture Capitalist. First, he is never going to give me anything unless he knows that I am fully vested myself and that I have a lot riding on the outcome. Second, he is willing to step in and bail me out now and then but I better be doing my part. Fun Theology aside, just plain old natural observation proves that the one that takes the risk gets the reward. It is almost like a mathematical calculation. 1 + 1 = 2. Action + Risk = Reward.
Nobody gets anywhere doing nothing. You have to act and with that act you have to put something on the line. That is if you want to see an increase or an improvement. Now having said all that, risk is a tricky business. If you go “all in” on every hand then you are going to end up broke and busted. If you fold every time a bet comes up, then you are slowly going to bleed everything you have until you have nothing left. So we are in a pickle aren’t we? Risk too much and you lose it all. Risk too little and you lose it all. The only way to survive is to grow and that requires the appropriate amount of risk. Funny, poker games, stock market, life. They all follow the same pattern.
To take this even further and reverse the equation. You can almost say that Life is Risk. Meaning you are only truly living when you are taking risk. You can watch creatures of any sort – insects, lobsters, puppies, toddlers and they exhibit this very early in their development. They will venture out and test the environment. After taking that small risk, they will venture out again and test a larger area. They are taking risks, it is so natural that almost every creature does it. It seems that this is just part of our primal DNA. We take risks. That is what we do. So if you are not taking risks in life you are denying your humanity!
Risk is everywhere. It is stepping out your front door in the morning. It is that uncomfortable conversation with your teenager. It is requesting that pay raise from your boss (the answer is no btw), It is asking that person on a date, It is calling that new prospect and asking for a meeting, it is dedicating time to an activity that you have hope will produce the results that you want. Risk is part of life. So you are never avoiding risk even when you think you are. So if that is the case, then perhaps you can be more deliberate about the risk that you take. Consider what you are risking and why. Determine if you are risking enough, could you put more of yourself out there and by so doing increase the reward? Conscious understanding of risk seems to be a critical step in making a determination if you are actually risking enough to get the reward that you want in life.
Guy Reams
