What’s Stopping You From Taking Your Risks?
Yesterday I drove home from picking my daughter up from school. It was a street I have driven down hundreds of times. Our family lives in a nice neighborhood, but just down the road, one short-cut street has run-down buildings and old, dirty homes
As I neared the intersection ahead, I saw a group of questionable-looking teenage boys standing in front of a particularly questionable house. And as I drove past this house, I heard a loud POPPING sound. I turned my head to see a BULLET HOLE in my van’s passenger window (which immediately began to shatter into thousands of pieces).
I reached for my phone to dial 9-1-1. My girls in the back of the van screamed and one of them began crying. I shook as I dialed the number. I tried to think logically as I told the operator what had just happened. I drive down to the end of the street and waited just out of sight. The operator told me an officer was on the way, then hung up.
I began to cry. I could feel my body going into shock.
Things like this don’t happen to people like me.
The one thought that kept racing through my head was, “This isn’t happening.”
I’m a mom. I cook dinner almost every night. I clip coupons. I volunteer in my child’s classroom. I am at church almost as much as I am at home. I am a good person with good values. This doesn’t happen to people like me, I keep thinking.
The What-Ifs
And then, all the “What ifs” began to flood my mind. What if….I had just been a few feet ahead of that bullet? My baby girl was sitting just behind the passenger side. My oldest was sitting right behind her. What if the angle of the bullet had been different and had caught me in the head? What if…..
These thoughts are enough to drive anyone crazy.
As one night passed and the next day has begun, I am grateful. Grateful for my life, for a God who I believe was protecting my children and me. Grateful for the police who do their jobs. And perhaps more than before, grateful for my LIFE.
But those “What-Ifs” continue to race through my mind.
What are Your What-Ifs
Life is full of “What if’s”. What if….I miscarry? What if….I don’t get that job? What if……my husband and I don’t make this marriage work? What if…….this lump is cancer? What if……..I never do what I love?
There all kinds of reasons to not take risks. There will always be the “What ifs” but on the other side of those “what ifs” is life that could be fuller than you ever imagined. Sometimes we have to take that leap and just jump. Sometimes we have to take the risk that we might get hurt or shot at! But, most of the time, we will live to tell about it.
Have you stopped pursuing something because of the fear of risk? Have you given up on a relationship because the risk was too great?
Don’t make the mistake of wondering what might have happened if you had _______. Don’t spend your life wondering what may have happened if you had taken the risk you’re thinking about right now.
What about you?
What risks have you stopped taking? And what would it take to start taking them today?
Leave your comments in the section below!
About the author
Kristin Thompson has been helping people discover their ultimate potential since 2003. As a wife and mother of three girls, she has been through the ups and downs of parenthood and the crazy life of a growing family, and she's lived to tell about it. She is also an avid runner and a nutrition specialist. If you're interested in discovering more of who you are or feeling great about your health, contact Kristin today.
bill (cycleguy)
February 24, 2012 • 2:48 pm
I am ashamed to admit that as I got more entrenched into my family and job (pastor) and lived with a wife who did not and would not take risks, I lost my natural make up to do so. I settled in. Now that I am older it is really harder to take risks that cost $$$ and stress on my physical health. Does that make sense? On another front: hope you and the girls are ok.
bill (cycleguy) recently posted..MisplacedAnger
Kristin Thompson
February 24, 2012 • 2:57 pm
I think that makes total sense. One of the greatest gifts a wife can give her husband is by taking those leaps and trusting God to give her security along the way. It is hard for many women to do that. I hear this a lot. One of my professors just turned 50 and she is contemplating getting her doctorate. She said this in class, “I figure that I’m 50 and in four years I’ll be 54 with or without a doctorate! But, if I had it, how much more could I do!” I thought that was genius. It is never too late to take that risk and for God to challenge us in our lives.
Kristin Thompson recently posted..What’s Stopping You From Taking Your Risks?
Vidya Sury
February 24, 2012 • 4:54 pm
So glad you’re safe, Kristin. I had my heart in my mouth as I read through your post. Phew! What if….what a powerful phrase that is! Beautifully said by Anais Nin: “And then the day came, when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to Blossom.” I completely agree that it is important to take risks to achieve certain things! There’s nothing worse than letting a “what if” stop us.
Hugs to you. Sigh. I am really glad you and your girls are safe!
Vidya Sury recently posted..The Haiku Challenge 2012 – Day 23 – The Joy Of Giving
Kristin Thompson
February 25, 2012 • 2:31 am
Hi Vidya! Great to see you! I love the quote by Anais Nin. So poetically true! I’m pretty thankful Kristin made it out alive as well.
Kristin Thompson
February 25, 2012 • 2:31 am
THis is Bryan, btw. Sorry.
Kristin Thompson recently posted..What’s Stopping You From Taking Your Risks?
Kristin
February 26, 2012 • 1:02 am
Thank you! Beautifully said.
Kristin recently posted..What’s Stopping You From Taking Your Risks?
Corinne Rodrigues
February 24, 2012 • 4:55 pm
Kristin thank you for sharing your very powerful story. Im so glad that none of you were injured physically – although the fear might continue to haunt you….
Youve made me think of my what-ifs – I need to work on facing them and writing them down. Thanks for the inspiration!
Bryan Thompson
February 25, 2012 • 2:35 am
Thanks Corinne for the kind words on the post. I’ll let Kristin speak for herself, but this made all of us consider our “what-ifs” more than we had. Funny how an experience like that will do it. I like your idea of writing down the what-ifs so you don’t forget them. Thanks again!
Evelyn
February 24, 2012 • 9:21 pm
Hi Kristin,
Thank God for protecting you and your family!!!
We don’t always know what will happen if we take a risk, I guess that’s why we sometimes, ask the ‘what ifs.’ What ifs can definitely stunt our growth. Sometimes we have to find the courage and faith to take those risks and trust God.
As for your question, I’m still thinking about it.
Take care and blessings,
Evelyn
Bryan Thompson
February 25, 2012 • 2:38 am
Evelyn, I will let Kristin speak for herself, but as you can imagine, I’m pretty grateful she and the girls were safe. It made us all think about our what-ifs. Appreciate your comment!
Kristin
February 26, 2012 • 1:03 am
I think it is the fear of the unknown too. At least for me it is. To be honest, I’m still wrapping my head about it all and trying not to ask What if but what now?
Kristin recently posted..What’s Stopping You From Taking Your Risks?
Nancy Shields
February 26, 2012 • 1:19 am
WOW Kristin so glad that all turned out okay and GOD had you in the exact place to avoid the most damage. I thankful to GOD for that!
Now on the other note – WHAT IFS – the timing of this post is perfect because just this morning I thought about the what ifs in my life – I moved to California after having an amazing marriage of about 8 years – found out my husband was having an affair with an acquaintance of mine – living in Florida and I took a risk and moved across the country to avoid the drama and begin my healing process – the whole time trying to repair a marriage that was not repairable. That began my journey of 3 years – moving every 4-6 months to another place, another town and the what ifs…..trusting that GOD had me the right place for his GLORY!
I discovered through my journey of 3 years or so that people are amazingly wonderful and they want to help. I didn’t meet a stranger in those years of travelling across America – with only clothes and living in furnished rentals.
So now I ask myself what if I didn’t have the courage to move and stayed in the small town I was in due to fear – GUESS WHAT – I would have never experienced what I did and by taking the risk I discovered that there is another whole world out there and I created MakeGirlfriends.com along the way.
Great post Kristin and thank you for allowing me this space to talk about my what ifs……like Steve Jobs said, “we can only connect the dots looking backwards.”
In love and light,
Nancy
Nancy Shields recently posted..IS IT TIME TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE – PROCRASTINATION?
Bryan Thompson
February 26, 2012 • 5:27 am
Nancy, I think it’s so cool that you decided to take life by the horns and really live! I’m sad you went through so much heartache, but at the same time, you took those what-ifs and really experienced them head-on. Thanks for sharing that!
Brigid | The Inspired Notebook
February 27, 2012 • 12:30 pm
Kristin, what a terrifying experience that must have been for you and your girls. Sounds like you were all certainly protected from serious harm.
Those ‘What ifs’ you’re asking are hard questions. You must be grateful to even be able to ask them!
My biggest ‘what ifs’ have to do with my irrational fear of flying. As much as I’d love to travel, to see family, and to see a whole lot more of the world, I panic at the thought. I know I can at least take small steps towards making it happen though, even if I’m unlikely to suddenly be filled with the courage to overcome my fears completely!
I would hate to live my whole life without travelling because of a fear that I know deep down is irrational.
Brigid | The Inspired Notebook recently posted..February Creative Challenge: Subway / Word Art (and last month’s Fabric Hoops)
The Vizier
February 28, 2012 • 8:02 am
Hi Kristin,
That was really a nasty experience. I am glad nothing happened to your or your daughters.
Life is indeed full of what-ifs. Unless we are fully prepared and alert for signs of what is to come, we could be taken completely by surprise when something “unexpected” happens.
I used to let what-ifs stop me from taking risks when I was younger. I used to think the same things you thought after the incident happened. I am a good boy, I go to church, I say my prayers, bad things shouldn’t happen to me.
But all that has changed today. Having discovered the I-Ching, I no longer worry so much about what-ifs. If something really matters to me, I have the foresight to know how things will turn out before I take action. Then it is a matter of choosing wisely what to do next. Sometimes, the situation is ripe for action and so I immediately seize the day. Sometimes it is better to try a different and less challenging approach or to give up the project altogether. At other times I have to wait. With foreknowledge and foresight, I believe we can all make better choices and take calculated risks in reaching any goal we have in any area of our lives.
Also, there are less unpleasant surprises that can happen to me. For example, it is easy to foresee that something unpleasant might happen to me if I stick to my daily routine. If it is serious enough, then I will make the appropriate changes to avoid it if possible. If I cannot avoid it, then I will be prepared to manage it as best as I can.
Thank you for sharing this lovely article!
Irving the Vizier
The Vizier recently posted..The Dangers of Pride and Arrogance
Stay Connected
Welcome to ElevationLife
© 2012 ElevationLife
Powered by WordPress | Vendor Theme an AWESEM design