Take the Risk: Sometimes It Leads to the Answer
You have to start somewhere in life, plant your feet in the work, and soon the vision for your life will become clear. Take the risk while the picture is still incomplete.
Today’s blog is aimed at the millennial audience. There are roughly 83 million people in that age group, and it is about to become the largest generation, passing the baby boomers. Wow! These are the next leaders of our generation.
Why so many people stay stuck in a rut
I have found that this group carries more uncertainty about where to go and when to act. They have so much passion and so much desire to be something that they often forget to decide what exactly they want to be. I frequently see visions set so high that the “now” gets ignored. But you have to start somewhere, plant your feet in the work, and soon the vision for your life will become clear.
Some of the people I meet have already figured this out and are moving ahead without looking back. They took the risk and made the right decision. Others, though, are stuck in a rut. I call it a rut because it is like being in a place you cannot climb out of. There is no ladder, nothing to help you get up and out. They lose hope, they lose vision, and often they give up. For others it is like being on a hamster wheel. They are moving, but they are not going anywhere. No change, no progress, no spiritual growth.
Life can be confusing and terrifying when the fear of making a mistake is so big that you end up not moving at all. But if the right mentor shows up and gives you direction, your life can get back on track.
I always say this: you cannot allow yourself to be in the same place you were last year, or even six months ago.
I have talked with many young people who fall into the following categories and are stuck in a rut in life:
- They just finished high school and do not know what to do next.
- They completed part of college or finished a program and decided to take a break to figure out the next step.
- They have tried exploring several things but still have not found their passion.
The worst thing that can happen when you are stuck and do not know when to act is that you never make your move or leave your mark on life.
What if I make the wrong decision?
The fear of failure is what paralyzes people the most. It is the fear of the unknown, and some think that if we get it wrong, everything is lost. But I can assure you it is never all lost. You just have to keep moving forward. Learn from the mistakes, get back up, and keep running after the prize. There is only one person who can say you are defeated, and that is you.
I believe we need to take a leap of faith and believe that all things work together for good. It is about listening to feedback from mentors and understanding what your heart truly wants.
We all want to do something we are passionate about. Many of you may only have a glimpse of what could happen in your life. You do not see the whole picture, and often you do not feel anything at all. When that happens, simply trust that your path will lead you to success.
As you move down that path, whether it is going back to college, changing careers, or taking a new job, that will be the first step that opens new doors.
Sometimes we think we need to see the whole picture, but most of the time we only get a glimpse. If you wait for the whole picture, you may be waiting a very long time. Make your decision and act. It will all come together.
Take the risk before you see the whole picture
When you take that step, new paths are revealed. There were moments when all I knew was that I had to do something immediately. I did not want to risk life passing me by without being right in the middle of it. Yes, there was fear, and I wondered whether I could ever be anything significant.
When I finished high school, I could not go to college right away. I had to pay the price, working and helping in the family business. Nothing seemed to open up for me, and I thought life was unfair. My family went bankrupt, and we did not have money to do anything. I had other plans, but they would only come to pass later.
One thing I did was keep moving forward. Even when it was not what I wanted or dreamed of, I took what life handed me and turned it into something positive. Then things started falling into place. Sometimes we have expectations about how we think things should go, and they do not happen, and we lose hope.
Remember to keep chasing your dream, but pay attention to the doors that are open in front of you, whether they are big or small. Never give up on your dreams. Keep moving forward, no matter where you are right now. Circumstances will change for you, and you will begin to see a little light in your life. Sooner or later everything starts to come together, and you climb out of the rut successfully.
Now go take the risk, and know that it will put you in motion, opening a new door or a new path. You can do this!
If the missing piece is direction before you take the risk, that is what Mavericks was built for, and the full list is in the courses catalog.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if I am stuck in a rut?
Two signs: you cannot climb out, or you are moving without going anywhere, like a hamster wheel. No change, no progress, no spiritual growth. If you are in the same place you were six months ago, that is the answer.
What if I take the risk and get it wrong?
It is never all lost. Learn from the mistake, get back up and keep running after the prize. There is only one person who can call you defeated, and that is you.
Do I need to see the whole picture before I decide?
No, and most of the time you only get a glimpse. If you wait for the whole picture you may wait a very long time. Make the decision, act, and the next paths get revealed as you move.
Keep reading
Take the risk is easier to say than to do, so read these three next: they are the seasons that taught me to move anyway.