Summarize the following:
Risk-taking behavior allows you to feel a sense of independence, have a new experience, and establish yourself as an individual. While risks can be scary, they allow you to push past your perception of limitations and try something new. Risks can change your self-perception and help you realize you are capable of many things. Some people challenge themselves to run a marathon despite not being physically active. Coming from a place of no fitness to running a marathon is an incredibly large feat, one they may not have thought possible before finishing. Happier people take risks. Happiness allows you to become more open to possibilities, and more trusting and generous. When you feel happy, you are more willing to believe that the odds are in your favor. Before taking a risk, check in with your own happiness. Go do something you enjoy (like hiking or bike riding) before you make big decisions. Think about your ability to experience a positive outcome. While some people are more likely to take financial risks (like making investments or gambling), others are more likely to take social risks (like voicing an unpopular opinion in a work meeting). Recognize that risks can occur in many areas and affect life in many different ways. There is no "better" risk. Recognize that risk can include social risk, financial risk, stability risks, changing appearance, and so on. The kind of risks you take are up to you. When your social network is filled with people who enjoy taking risks, it increases your likelihood to engage in risks as well. The actions of one person tend to spread throughout the social network, leading to influencing other people as well. This can cause harm when the risk is alcohol or drugs, but can be of benefit when the risk can be positive, such as trying new sports like paragliding or snow shoeing. If you are fearful of backpacking, have friends that enjoy hiking and backpacking. Listen to them tell stories of enjoyment. Chances are, you'll start to feel more comfortable about backpacking and maybe even give it a shot. When faced with a decision, realize that any road you take involves some risk. Even if that decision is to stay within your comfort zone or venture outside of it, there are risks associated with either outcome. When you stay within your comfort zone, you risk not experiencing happiness in different ways, not exploring more facets of who you are, and not growing in new ways. When faced with a decision, acknowledge the risks inherent to each outcome. If your choice is to stay home for the weekend or go camping for the first time, you may risk regret, missing out on meeting new people or having new experiences, or feeling sad or guilty by choosing to stay home.
Recognize the benefits of taking chances. Check your happiness. Take different kinds of risks. Have risk-taking friends. Remember that not taking risks is also a risk.