Happiness is Taking Risks

The only way to find true happiness is to risk being completely cut open ~ Chuck Palahniuk

So tonight I sat down to write a post on how important taking risks is to being happy. As I always do I scanned the web for anything that might help or inform my writing and tonight I stumbled upon a piece entitled, 10 Risks Happy People Take Every Day by Marc Chernoff.

This is a really amazing piece and I hope you will click through and read the whole thing, but I’ve included the introduction and the 10 points that he makes. Risk taking is essential to happiness because taking risks involves making change and if you’re not happy, and you don’t do anything to change, then you will not become a happier person. So give it a read and have a happier day my friends ~ Rev Kane

10 Risks Happy People Take Every Day

Almost two decades ago, somewhat as a joke since she tutored me throughout grade school, I asked my grandmother to sign my yearbook. This was her closing paragraph:

“The best thing you can do from this day forward is to follow your intuition. Take risks. Don’t just make the safe and easy choices because you’re afraid of what could happen. If you do, very little worth remembering will ever happen.”

Years later, as I grew interested in the psychology of happiness, I realized how pertinent my grandmother’s words were. Risk is an inherent part of living a good life. Without taking risks, you cannot truly live… you merely exist. Which is why the happiest among us take small risks every day. Let’s take a look at ten examples, and examine some ideas on how to implement them in your own life.

1. They risk the possibility of being hurt.

2. They risk being real in front of others.

3. They risk missing out on something new, so they can appreciate what they have.

4. They risk helping others without expectations.

5. They risk taking full responsibility for their own happiness.

6. They risk the consequences of taking action.

7. They risk bearing the discomfort of growth.

8. They risk the possibility of failing.

9. They risk being disappointed by accepting the truth.

10. They risk letting go and starting anew.

About Michael Kane

Michael Kane is a writer, photographer, educator, speaker, adventurer and a general sampler of life. His books on hiking and poetry are available in soft cover and Kindle on Amazon.

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