5 Tips How to Be Bold and Overcome Risk-taking Fear

(Last Updated On: July 10, 2023)

Let’s talk about risk and how to be bold. Even if you don’t think about risky new steps, you probably took a few risks to get to where you were today and are unlikely to take them.

To face and overcome your fears, the most effective approach is systematic exposure. Start small and gradually expose yourself to the things that scare you. This exposure, ideally in a positive way, reduces the fear response until it becomes manageable or even disappears. Numerous studies have shown the effectiveness of exposure therapy in treating phobias and anxiety disorders.

Remember, avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than facing it head-on. Fear often holds us back from what is best for us. It’s crucial to determine when to listen to fear and when to ignore it, considering our long-term interests. Avoidance is the natural response to fear, but it’s not the one that works. By facing fear and exposing ourselves to challenging situations, we gain control and propel ourselves forward.

Are you the type of person who always plays it safe?

Perhaps you find comfort in familiar patterns and avoid taking risks.

But here’s the thing: facing your fears and stepping outside your comfort zone is not just about personal growth. There’s a scientific case to be made for doing things that scare you.

Fear, in its essence, is a bully. It tells you what to do, and when you obey, it gains power. However, when you acknowledge fear but do the opposite, you build courage. By doing courageous acts, you develop courage.

This aligns with Albert Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy, where past experiences shape our belief in our capabilities. Those who have succeeded in the past tend to approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered, rather than threats to be avoided. They set challenging goals, maintain strong commitment, and recover quickly from failures. This mindset leads to personal accomplishments, reduced stress, and lower vulnerability to depression.

So, how can you foster an efficacious outlook and set yourself up for success?

Start by thinking through the worst-case scenario. Tim Ferriss suggests asking, “What’s the worst that can happen?” This approach helps you confront your fears and consider how you would handle the outcome you fear the most. Fear never completely disappears, nor should it, but confronting it is the way to move forward.

This mindset explains why entrepreneurs often practice “productive paranoia” by planning for the worst. It prepares them to weather storms and navigates challenges. They embrace the fear and use it as motivation to succeed.

Doing something scary can inspire exceptional outcomes. Fear signals that something significant is at stake, motivating you to put in the effort. As a leader, you should embrace the kind of fear that leads to exceptional results. Bill Gates once said, “Fear should guide you. I consider failure on a regular basis.”

So, don’t let fear dictate your actions. Walk toward the cannons and take on the challenges that scare you. The more you face fear, the more power you regain over your life. With systematic exposure, you can conquer your fears and propel yourself toward success.

Are you someone who always plays it safe?

Do you find yourself being overly logical and rational, avoiding any involvement with uncertainty?

Perhaps you believe that you have too much to lose, which is why you stick to familiar patterns and situations.

Or deep down, you acknowledge that you’re simply afraid, and that’s just part of who you are?

I know you’ve probably heard it before, but let me reiterate: Playing it safe is far more perilous than taking calculated and intelligent risks.

If you remain stagnant, you risk being left behind.

You see, the world is constantly evolving. Not only are your friends changing, but your spouse, your children, your colleagues, and even your boss are all in a state of flux. Your professional field is moving at an accelerated pace. Life has always been this way, but in the fast-paced digital age, everything moves even faster.

So, what happens when you avoid risks, knowing that risks often bring about change? You surrender yourself to the whims of chance or the will of others. Frankly, that doesn’t sound like a fulfilling life to me.

Being bold is a necessity in today’s world. However, it’s not about being completely fearless, reckless, or irrational. It’s about embracing change and actively contributing to it.

But where should you begin?

It starts in your mind and heart. You must become aware of why you’re hesitant to take risks and address those reasons head-on.

Start with small steps. Think of something manageable that can serve as your first risk. For instance, are you afraid to end a toxic relationship because “friends don’t do that”? Or are you reluctant to express your opinion at work? Give it a try. The feeling afterward is exhilarating. By taking small risks every day, you’ll become more accustomed to them and prepare yourself for bigger ones.

Write it down. Grab a pen and a piece of paper. Writing can be the key to unlocking many aspects of life.

Listen to your intuition. It may be challenging since intuition rarely follows logical patterns. (I’ll be exploring the topic of intuition in an upcoming Weekly Topic.)

Embrace the possibility of failure. Remind yourself that any action can result in either a win or a loss, and both outcomes are perfectly okay.

Create a reverse list. Take a moment to recall all the times in your life when you took risks and acted boldly. I’m confident you’ll find plenty of examples that prove how well it worked out.

Above all, have fun. Consider it an adventure. After all, life is simply a game waiting to be played.

Tips on how to be bold

In a recent podcast at Harvard Business School, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey defines entrepreneurship as a risk-taking initiative and tips on how to be bold.

“The definition of entrepreneurship is actually a financially significant risk to create something,” he said.

“It means that anyone can really take a zealous attitude. An entrepreneur does not necessarily create a business. It’s a very bold attitude to take risks. “

Taking the courage to take the risky next step is not that difficult and is one of the useful tips on how to be bold.

Here are some ways to harness the power of positive risk-taking.

1. Negativity warns of prejudice

The world is full of uncertainties and tips on how to be bold are necessary. Take, for example, the business world, which is especially vulnerable to unexpected disruptions.

In the past 3 years, we have seen the rise and fall of Fortune 3 companies and the creation of completely new industries. Each decision, including the decision to do nothing, carries some risk factor.

Entrepreneurship and productivity expert Tim Ferris writes on his blog, “The problem with negativity bias is that we increase the risk of some actions and reduce the chance of others.”

“The biggest risk is not taking any risks. In a world that is changing really fast, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is to not take risks. “-Mark Zuckerberg

Tips on how to be bold give hope as risky behavior is everywhere. Instead of determining the consequences of a risk you have never tried, try to evaluate the whole situation, including any potential hazards to maintaining the situation.

“Risk is an inevitable constant in life, so your focus should be on taking the right kind of risk that gives you the right kind of opportunity,” Ferris says. Some questions to ask yourself: Which risks are acceptable?

Which risk will make more money or happiness in my life? Which risk will pay more in the long run?

Mark Zuckerberg, famously co-founder of Facebook and Harvard’s Dropout, said, “The biggest risk is not taking a risk.

In a world that is changing really fast, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is to not take risks. “

2. Build self-efficacy

As the popular Ralph Waldo Emerson quote goes, “All life is a test. The more you test, the better. ” And increase self-efficacy, “I think” I can “end Acaka psychology notice that enhances achievement.

So the more you experiment, the better you are at making them. And the more risk you take, the more positive your risk experience will be.

If the concept of risk-taking is still sweating your palate, try raising the level of comfort with a small risk before making the big one.

3. Be sensible about your risks

It is important to add confidence in the building to risk-taking that does not necessarily mean that you will take smart risks.

It can be helpful to create parameters or conditions for each risky decision as one of the tips on how to be bold. When Todd Goldberg, co-founder of digital events organization Platform Events, left his job on August 23 to pursue his advancement program, he devoted a year to making significant earnings or funding.

It turns out that Goldberg was unusually perfect at his one-year limit. In September of 2014, more than a year later, Ticketmaster purchased an undisclosed amount of event wins.

Goldberg says, “Dozens of investors are less than us than we are, and at any given moment, there is no profit from breaking the product at crucial moments.”

“Despite all this, we have had an amazing year that includes recognizing the winter batch of Y Combinators, raising funds, making great strides in product development, and, most importantly, growing at a good rate.”

As a football player for the Philadelphia Aggies, Emmanuel Acho fully understands the various dangers posed by his work. “A lot of athletes’ dilemmas: Should I try to maximize my talent now, or focus on opening the door for the future, with the small window in the NFL now?”

Increasing your confidence in risk-taking does not mean that you will take smart risks. It can be helpful to create parameters or conditions for each risky decision and learn how to be bold.

While Ago currently focuses solely on football but spends his time in the off-season graduating and running an online community startup, Ney Neberly Bee “Startups are tough,” says Acho.

“These are extremely difficult, yet it is in our blood just to challenge us and do something risky.

In the off-season, people were traveling and having fun, and I was just studying and working. Hopefully, it pays dividends in the long run. ”

4. “Failing” is okay

“Failed fast!” While the startup mentality may seem strange, the expectation of failure can actually be seen as a method of success.

New York University has conducted a gambling test, in which some participants were told that losses were completely inevitable and acceptable, while others were not given the same amount of talk.

At the end of the survey, participants who were assured of loss did not suffer loss after injury and were able to outperform their peers at greater risk.

Know that failure is an option and come up with a plan for how to deal with the loss.

Being mentally prepared enables you to make positive decisions about risk-taking without having to fear the unexpected, which can be one of the most vulnerable factors in risk-taking.

5. Just do it

After analyzing the risk-averse chance of death, it is sometimes best to do it in your gut listening. “Now that I’ve come to the other side and started winning events, I’ve learned that creating a startup and even joining up is not as risky,” Goldberg said.

“You can learn more in two years than the amount of time you spend in five years of ‘ordinary’ work.

If you are forced to be creative, it can be a powerful thing in terms of creativity and performance.

You often have a big role to play in something that will hopefully affect millions of people. Also, if all of these things are left out, you can always go for another job. “