Growth

Growth means trying new things. Trying new things means risking doing something you haven't done before! Sometimes you don't know whether to risk something new or not. Here's a way to weigh the factors associated with any risk. For each new thing, or risk, you want to consider, write the following four headings (spaced well apart) on a sheet of paper:

What do you stand to gain if you do? _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ What do you stand to gain if you don't? _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ What do you stand to lose if you do? _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ What do you stand to lose if you don't? _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________

Next, list under each heading all the factors you can think of that answer the question in the heading.

As you make your list, you may notice that one or another of the lists under a heading collects a majority of factors. This can give you an indication of the "weight" of factors that "do" or "don't" support the risk. Many people find that they truly straddle the middle, not really ready to try a new direction because of the unknown. Weighing the consequences either way is very important.

In time, the old way of doing things, which was safe, comfortable, and familiar-may become boring and unsafe. Even though the future seemed uncertain and risky, after a while the risk might seem attractive.