1. Risks help us grow

It’s easy to want to play it safe, as you know the outcome that can be expected. Doing something new requires not knowing what lies ahead and accepting that you can’t prepare for everything. Mistakes can be learned from, and you shouldn’t be afraid of making them.

2. Failure shouldn’t be feared

Failure is a part of life. You can’t expect to be perfect at everything that you do, especially when you’ve never done it before. The best thing about failure is that you can get back up and try again, bearing in mind everything that went wrong the first time.

3. You will boost your self-confidence

Once you decide to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk, you will realise that you’re capable of more than you thought. And every time you push yourself to do something new or something you’re afraid of, that belief will grow with you.

4. You have nothing to lose

If you don’t try, you’ll never know. But if you do try and it doesn’t work out, then you’re still where you started, with the added experience. Take away all the pressure you put on yourself to do something a certain way or be at a certain level, and trust yourself to simply do your best.

5. It could lead you down a path you never even knew you wanted

The thing about risks is that we don’t know where they’ll end up. You could fall flat on your face, or you could find yourself walking through newly opened doors. Sometimes you need to go for your dreams to realise that you actually don’t want them at all, and sometimes the unexpected opportunity that comes your way leads you right to where you’re meant to be.

Okay, but how?

It’s all well and good telling you to jump in headfirst and let go of that fear, but it can be scary when it comes to putting it into practice. The best thing you can do is break your problem down into small steps and focus on taking them one at a time. Once you start to challenge one obstacle, you’ll feel stronger and more able to tackle the next one, and before you know it, you’ll be looking back and realising how far you’ve come.

Don’t worry about what anyone else thinks of you. Again, this often stops us from trying something because we’re afraid of how people will react. We’re afraid of being judged for not being good enough, but who decides whether we are or not? You can’t let other people’s comments stop you from living your life!

So, get out there and go for it!