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It’s really easy to want to play it safe in life. Why not? Every one else is. So we play it safe in many different areas–in our career, where we live, and how we invest, to name just a few. But by playing it safe, our lives will have a very limited impact. Because the stakes are high, we should make our decision carefully, based on what we value most highly.
What’s at Risk?
Risk can be defined as “a possibility of incurring loss or doing something without regard to possible loss.” Let’s take a closer look at what’s really at stake. What might we lose if we choose to step out and make a difference.
- Looking good to other people
When we orient our lives toward making a significant difference, some people are going to think we’re weird. They won’t understand why we stepped off the promotion path at work, spend our nights and weekends helping people and are going to yet another personal development seminar. - Personal wealth and accumulation of stuff
It’s certainly possible to be wealthy and to make a difference. They are by no means mutually exclusive. Naturally, it’s easier to bless other people when we have time and money to give. But doing so will take away from the stuff we could have kept for ourselves. - Venturing into unknown territory
Dealing with the fear of the unknown has to be one of the biggest risks here. There will be times where we won’t know what to expect or how to make something happen. That sense of being out of control can be pretty scary.
What at Risk if We Play It Safe?
If we’re really honest with ourselves, we’ll find we can actually expect to incur losses in the big picture of life when we choose to play it safe instead of choosing to live our calling.
- Personal integrity
Ouch. When we feel that nudge inside that tells us to do something to really make a difference, and we choose to ignore it, we are not having integrity. We know we should do something, yet we choose not to do it. - Positive results in other people’s lives
The risk of loss isn’t just for us, it’s for the people whose lives we could be changing. They will lose it if we choose to live small and play it safe. - Sense of satisfaction at the end of life
As many of you know, when John had a heart attack and realized he might be dying, he was faced with two profound questions: “Did I love people well?” and “Did my life matter?” If we play it safe, we’ll be limiting our true expression of love for people as well as our chances of making a difference in people’s lives.
See for Yourself
Francis Chan gives us a glimpse into what it’ll look like in the end if we choose to play it safe. His message is aimed at Christians, but I think it applies to all of us. Watch the video and decide for yourself if you’re willing to take some risks to find your purpose and live your legacy.us.
See the video here.
