Is It Worth The Gamble

People place small bets every day –– such as running out to an appointment at the last minute or leaving home without an umbrella. Even though the consequences are small, you’re still rolling the dice –– sometimes you’ll win, other times you’ll lose. The danger is that after you get a few small wins under your belt, you’ll develop a false sense of security and feel you can double down. It’s very easy to convince yourself that you’re unbeatable. And, like a gambler, your bets get bigger and bigger…until you lose.
Did you ever stop and think of the effect that risk taking is having on your life? For example, is the stress having an impact on your health? Are you losing needed sleep worrying about the future? Does your life feel like an emotional roller coaster?
Think of the consequences of your actions: What if the BIG bet doesn’t go your way? How would the loss change your life? What would the loss mean to your family? What impact would the loss have on the relationships that you hold dear? Will you ever be able to recover from it?
So remind me again…why are you risking it all? Is it the thrill and the adrenaline rush? Are you trying to impress your friends? Does it make you feel that much better to have one more toy than your neighbor has?
Living on the edge isn’t the “be-all and end-all.” It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize that there are no guarantees in life — which means that playing the odds through excessive risk taking is like playing with fire. Unfortunately, when you get burned, there may be serious consequences. As author Ray Bradbury once said, “Living at risk is jumping off the cliff and building your wings on the way down.”
The key, then, is to take calculated risks, and only place bets on things that you’re willing to lose. As the saying goes, “Take risks: If you win, you will be happy; if you lose, you will be wise.” Make sense? You bet.