Life is full of leaps of faith as everything in life comes with risk. Certainly, some leaps of faith are riskier than others, but every step you take has some risk attached. We often find ourselves too scared to leap, too scared to take a chance that is presented to us. Why do we hold ourselves back from reaching our full potential?
Taking a risk isn’t always as risky as we may initially believe. Leaps of faith tend to come with a safety net to catch us if things don’t work out quite the way we planned.
What Good Is Waiting?
One of the big reasons we neglect to take a leap of faith is that we always think we can leap at a later time. We tell ourselves, “Not yet, but eventually”, and then eventually never comes. Here are a few reasons why waiting isn’t helping you:
You’ll Never Feel Ready
Many people wait to take a leap of faith because they don’t feel like they are ready to leap. However, it is likely that you will never feel ready. In fact, the longer you wait, the less ready you will feel. Like Lemony Snicket said, “If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”
You Have the Power to Do Something
Another reason you shouldn’t wait is that you have the power to do something, but you are choosing to remain exactly where you are. Now, this isn’t always a bad thing. There is nothing wrong with being content with your current life, but if you never take a leap, you’ll never know what else could be waiting for you.
You’re More Likely to Never Do It
Waiting is also problematic because it decreases the likelihood that you will ever take that leap of faith. This can cause you to miss out on incredible opportunities and experiences that could change your life for the better.
Safety Nets
As mentioned above, leaps of faith are always scary, but what if you knew there was a safety net to catch you if you fall?
Most decisions you make have a “safety net”, or some way to get out of the situation if things don’t go as planned. For example, say that you leave your job to work at a new company. If you end up disliking your new job, you can always find another company to work for. You aren’t stuck in that position forever.
Safety Nets Aren’t Always Needed
Another thing to keep in mind is that safety nets aren’t always needed. We tend to focus on the worst most of the time, but things tend to work out in our favor. While the thought of a safety net is nice, remember that there is a good chance you won’t need it.
Whatever You Do, Do Something
Imagine an opportunity just presented itself to you. What do you do? I encourage you to remember this philosophy: Whatever you do, do something.
Take a Baby Step
This may sound vague but jumping in head-first can seem a little overwhelming; if you can’t make yourself jump in all the way, try taking a baby step at first to test the waters. Get comfortable with the decision before fully committing to it.
Count to Three and Jump
If you feel that you tend to avoid leaps of faith regardless of testing the waters, try forcing yourself to take one small leap of faith a week. Count to three out loud or in your head, and then act on it. This gives your brain a deadline for action and ensures that you don’t allow yourself to wait. Allow yourself to take a leap of faith, and experience what you are meant to experience in life.
