There are two kinds of lives we can live while we are alive-one, where we go through life doing what most people do, or we do things that fire you up- that is chase your passion.

The title of the post is an incomplete question, isn’t? That’s because it is for people who believe they are missing something in life. They need to take a risk for that something, which they can’t put a finger on. This article is about that something that is difficult to define.

Are you willing to risk your life to do something you care about- for your passion?

If you are, you might just achieve something that you would be proud of. If you don’t achieve it, you will go in the pursuit of a great goal. You just won’t be able to live a comfortable life, which would have been possible, had you not taken the risk. The choice is yours. The choice is comfort versus happiness. What would you choose?

You see, most of us are wired against risks. We are told not to take risks and put our lives in jeopardy. But, if we don’t take risks, what are we really risking?

We may risk living a life that’s dull, boring and monotonous. Is THAT not a risk?

We may risk never finding out true happiness. Is THAT not a risk?

Why are we so risk averse as a society when all the inventions in the world have taken place because someone took a risk?

I don’t know.

There are things that matter and they are worth risking your life for. A lot of people ask-what is worth risking your life for? Well, there are things that matter for a life that matters.

1. You may discover and chase your passion

If you don’t know what you are passionate about and life seems dull and boring, taking risks may help you in figuring out who you are, and what your story is about. A lot of young people these days take a year off and travel the world. I wish I had done that. When I was in my 20’s, I was so insecure and concerned about finding a job, any job that taking a risk was way off my radar of doing things.

If you take a risk, you may find yourself.

2.  You may find your calling

Your calling is what you are born to do. You must find your calling and chase your passion. If you never leave the comfort of your current life which is ‘good enough,’ you may never be able to find your true calling. When you find your calling, your days may not be the same again. There would be a newfound enthusiasm for your purpose and a deeper sense of meaning in your life. However, if you don’t take the risk to understand what your calling is, you may never find it.

3.  You may experience deep meaningful happiness in your skin

Happiness is of multiple types. The deepest kind of happiness is the one I call happiness in your skin-happiness so deep that it gives you Goosebumps. That’s the kind of happiness this blog is about. We want you to experience the kind of happiness which has depth and meaning. If you take a risk to find what makes you happy in your skin, it is likely that you will find it. Sooner or later, we find what we seek.

4. You may experience deep failure

Chasing your passion is not easy. A lot of us in the society lead cushioned and risk-free lives. The reason the world has so few entrepreneurs in comparison to employees is because most people are risk averse and they cannot handle any failure. Since it is a risk, it is likely that you may fail in your attempt, and a few attempts before you win. It will make you a better and mentally stronger person. Not just that, it will also improve your relationship with failure.

5. You may find meaning when you chase your passion

It is difficult to find meaning in life but you know it when you have it. Have you seen a lot of people leave highly paid jobs to do stuff which pays a fraction of what they used to earn? Why would they do that? They would do that because it gives their lives meaning. The problem with money is that you have to have it to realize that it doesn’t add much value to your life beyond a point. But, in order to find meaning, you must take some risks.

6. You may find love on the journey of your passion

The world has a lot of lonely people in crowded families. We all need love but so many of us are scared to ask for it. Have you ever not approached someone you loved and professed your love? Don’t you regret that? Won’t you always remember that? It is because you didn’t take a chance on finding love. They may have said yes. When you take a risk, you may find love.

7. You may find healing when you chase your passion

Just like love, many people do not ask for apologies from people they think they have pained because they feel that they would not be forgiven. They don’t take the risk, while the relationship suffers. They don’t even know that some people could drop everything, all sins, all mistakes if only they could hear from the person who pained them those 3 magic words- I am sorry.

Take the risk. You may heal yourself and the person you are apologizing to.

8. People who pursue their passion are committed to work

Hiro Onoda spent 29 years on an island in Philippines after the Second World War was over because he couldn’t surrender to the army, in his mind. The war was over in 1945, while he stayed on the island till 1974 when he finally accepted that the war had finished and walked out. He risked 3 decades of his life to service his country and stay true to his work. Would you risk your life for your work?

9. Create your own path and follow your passion

Most people live cloned lives. They look like other people and they behave like other people. It takes risk to create your own path and your unique identity. When you try to do that, the society doesn’t respect you till you succeed madly, after which you become a hero. It takes a lot of risk to go through this process of living a life less ordinary. Would you take this risk?

10. The biggest risk in life is not taking any risk

Take the risk to chase your passion. I was laid off from a job that I got from my MBA campus after a year of hiring. At that time, also had an education loan on me and life became quite difficult during the period. I got a job back but then I took another risk to quit the job in a few years to become a writer, among other things.

Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, has famously said about risk:

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”

Who takes risks in everyday life to chase your passion?

Well, everyone who works for themselves takes a risk of not making a regular but an irregular income. They do it for freedom.

Entrepreneurs take massive risk with their time and other people’s money to create companies that might fail, and many do.

Investors take the risk of investing money in start-ups.

You and I take the risk of going out of your house every day when we could die of an accident.

All of us are risking our lives to some extent. Some of us are just risking more than others because we care about things that risking our lives could bring us.

Is it worth taking risks in life?

Absolutely, it is worth taking risks in life and that is the whole point of this piece. You need to take risks to take your life to a higher level of consciousness and experience. It is only when you take risks to understand what life could be like when you have true happiness and freedom, that you would be able to experience it.

In conclusion, what you would risk your life for, defines who you are as a person. If you would risk your life for your country, then you are a patriot. When you would risk your life for your partner, you are true lover. If you would risk your life for your dreams, then you are a dreamer. If you don’t take any risks, you live life without truly experiencing what it could mean. Take a risk.

Thank you for reading.

The purpose of this blog to help you find your happiness. Please read the other posts on the blog, and follow so that you get updates when new posts are published. Please share any posts you like with your friends so that they can also find their happiness. If you have any feedback for me, please leave it in the comments and I would be happy to work on it. If you would like to support my writing and this blog, you may please send a donation through PayPal here.

I appreciate the time you spent in reading the blog and wish you happiness.

Love,

Amarvani