5-Step Guide To Taking Chances Like A Total BOSS

The very thought of a life-changing decision brings chills to most of us, yet from the moment we are born, we keep taking these big steps toward change. Some of us feel a ton of stress and think through everything, and others jump blindly into the unknown. 

Sometimes we make risky decisions, not because we believe we can do it, but because someone else is so confident in us so much that it makes us believe too. Other times we go for it because we just can’t bare the situation we’re in anymore and we have to believe that there’s something better on the other side.

As for me, my biggest decisions have always been about following my heart. Not just following my heart in love, but also for my passions, believing that I can do whatever I set out to do even though there is no indication of future success except my ability to believe.

Through my numerous leaps of faith, I’ve learned a few steps that have eventually made each chance a little less scary, a little less overwhelming.
When you're facing your next big leap into the unknown, remember to do the following:

1. Set aside the emotions and look at the facts.

Emotions are great — they are a wonderful part of our everyday existence, however they have a huge drawback: they can be completely false. Just think about simple day-to-day things like how you react to things when you’re hungry vs. how you react when you just had a nice meal.

Emotions change every second, so take a little time to be quiet and look beyond the emotions to the actual facts. Fear is an emotion and it will play with your mind until you decide to conquer it and move forward.

2. Decide if what you will lose by making that decision is worth it.

Sometimes it’s easy to see what there is to lose when we take that chance, but the real question is not what we lose, but what we lose if we don’t.

Remember, not making a decision or continuously postponing it is also a way of making a decision not to take that chance in the first place. It’s a way of saying that what’s on the other end is not important enough for you to alter your course.

3. Imagine yourself in both scenarios.

I have found this one to be the most effective of all. Imagine yourself a few months from now or even a year looking back at your decision – which decision are you proud of? The fact that you took that leap of faith or because you followed through on your original course? Looking back from that place in the future, if you could go back in time and make a decision, what would that decision be?

4. Stop beating yourself up.

You can’t make the right decision from a place where you’re just putting yourself down. A decision should be empowering – even if it’s scary. It shouldn't make you feel less happy with yourself or make you feel unworthy.

5. Remember that you can always make new decision later on.

Sometimes the only way to know what’s on the other side is to actually take the risk and step into the unknown. The direction is sometimes a coin toss, but you know you have to go in one direction or another.

Sometimes it will be the right direction and other times, it will be the wrong one. If it’s the right one, keep going. If it’s the wrong one, pick yourself up, go back to your safe place, recover, and make another decision.

We make risky decisions whether we want it or not – it’s part of the process of growing up and living your life to the fullest every single day.

Sometimes we soar high, other times we fall flat on our faces. What matters at the end is the ability to look back and say, “I tried, I did my best, I went for what I wanted. I was fearless while being full of fear, I took my chances, and I did things MY way.”

Contact Lavinia Lumezanu for consultation and encouragement when making your next big life-changing decision.