Making decisions with long-term consequences is scary. Choosing to make a big change to one’s life or keep things the same are both hauntingly ambiguous options. Some opportunities are too easily swayed by irrational fear, while others are obvious answers. But for the ones that seem to shake us to the core, even if they are great opportunities, it sometimes takes a little more convincing for commitment. For those indecisive individuals with their heart and heads in conflict about what chances to take, there are many reasons you shouldn’t shy away from opportunity.
Being nervous for new changes in your life is normal. For people who are especially nervous about their life decisions, sometimes the easiest option is to just go for it. Committing to a choice and then seeing how it plays out can help make scared people more familiar with being uncertain. No one is certain of anything in life, so why not get comfortable with feeling a little ambiguity now and then?
Taking a chance on an opportunity even if you’re afraid could also be great if you end up loving the choice you made. We’ve all heard the sayings, “If you don’t try, you’ll never know,” or, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” and even, “Don’t let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” As cheesy as they are, those sayings are true. You might really love the decision to commit to a new opportunity, but if you never take that chance then you’ll never know. Your fears about what if it doesn’t work out are valid, but what if it does?
On the other hand, if you take an opportunity and find out you absolutely hate it, that’s all right! You tried something and realized that it’s not for you. Finding out the things you dislike are just as important as finding the things you love. It’s good experience to figure out what doesn’t work for you, and that opportunity may lead you to some new discoveries about yourself and what you truly want to be doing.
Sticking out an opportunity you chose can also help you learn new things. Even though your new job might require you to travel more than you intended, you might become a master in efficiently navigating airports. Or, if you decided to move to a new city, you might learn the best way to move a couch up to the 9th floor of an apartment building without an elevator.
In the end, regardless of whether you loved it or hated it, taking one opportunity might welcome new opportunities as well. So even if you didn’t love the opportunity you took initially, you may meet someone or learn something that can open new doors and welcome new experiences in the future.
Any big opportunity presents pros and cons, but the openness to new experiences may also play a role in your decision. Despite your apprehension to take a chance on new opportunities, fear shouldn’t nudge you away. Taking new opportunities is nerve-racking, but a lot of good can come out of it, even if it’s not the way you expected!
-Brianna Cochran
Photo Credit: marcoverch Every change is a chance via photopin (license)
