One of the reasons people struggle with taking risks is because they are not confident that they will be able to handle the stress, responsibility, or pressure that comes along with it. You are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for, so stop doubting your own abilities! If you are considering moving to a new place, remind yourself that you have lots of skills and talents, so you should not be afraid of not being able to find a job or make new friends. If you want to ask someone on a date but you're worried she might say no, remind yourself that you are a great person with a lot to offer and that you will be just fine even if she does say no. You may be so bogged down with worries about the consequences of taking a risk that you forget there are consequences involved with not taking a risk also. If you never take risks, you will always be settling and living with regret. This constitutes a serious risk as well, as you may not be living the fulfilling life you really want. For example, if you are thinking about taking a new job that you think you will enjoy much more than your current job, but you are concerned that it is not as secure as your current job, consider that you risk being unhappy and never enjoying your work if you stay where you are. Everyone has a different tolerance for risk and danger. It can be beneficial to push your comfort zone a little to reach for things you want to accomplish, but there's no need to compare your own risk-taking to others. Don't let anyone pressure you into taking risks. You should take them because you want to, not because other people want you to. On the other hand, don't let people talk you out of doing something risky just because they would not be comfortable with doing it. What matters is your comfort level, not anyone else's. It's always possible that your risk may not pay off, but it's important to keep the consequences in perspective. People tend to overestimate both the likelihood that something will go wrong and the severity of the consequences that will ensue. Take a minute to reflect on what would actually happen if your risk didn't pay off and how you would handle it. For example, if you want to take the risk of making a public announcement about an important issue, you might stop yourself because you think that you will forget what you have to say, that people will laugh at you and that your entire life will be ruined. Consider that even if you forgot what you wanted to say and people laughed at you, there is a very small probability that this would ruin the rest of your life. Stop living the life that you think other people expect you to live, and start living the life you really want to live. If you aren't constantly worrying about disappointing others or embarrassing yourself, it will be much easier for you to take risks in life. If you are getting a lot of pushback from your friends and loved ones about your decisions, try having a talk with them. Say something like, "I really want to do this, and I find it very upsetting that you are so judgmental of it." You can try to explain your decisions to others, but don't feel like you have to justify them to anyone except yourself. Consider who you want to share your big risk with and talk to them after you have made your decision. Once you've decided that a risk is worth taking, try visualizing the scenario in your head several times with everything going exactly as planned. Don't let negative thoughts about things that could go wrong creep into your head. This positive thinking will help you build the confidence you need to go through with your risk. If you find yourself dwelling on possible negative outcomes, try repeating the desired outcome to yourself out loud. It may also help to remind yourself of all of the precautions you will be taking to prevent the negative thing from happening.

Summary: Stop underestimating yourself. Consider the risks of settling. Remember that risk is relative. Be realistic about what could go wrong. Let go of what others think. Picture everything going well.

When your breasts first begin to make milk after you deliver your baby, they may feel warm, swollen, and heavy, even uncomfortably so. Symptoms of prolonged breast engorgement after the first 2-5 days include: breasts that are swollen, firm, and painful flattened, hard areolas (the darker part of the breast around the nipple). This can make it more challenging for the baby to latch on. breasts that seem shiny, warm, hard, or slightly lumpy to the touch (in more severe cases) a slight fever and/or enlarged lymph nodes in the armpits If you find the soreness of your breasts is worsening, or you notice redness or lumpiness to the skin, or pain or burning when feeding, you may have plugged milk ducts or "mastitis" (an infection of the breast). Plugged milk ducts generally means symptoms of redness, lumpiness, and/or increased pain in the breast secondary to too much milk. It is basically a more serious form of breast engorgement, and you are also more prone to developing an infection in the breast when you have poor milk flow (called "mastitis"). Plugged ducts can also occur for other reasons (where the duct is truly blocked by something else, other than just milk), but this is less common. If you suspect you may have plugged milk ducts or mastitis (both have similar symptoms, but mastitis usually has the added symptom of a fever and/or chills), it is important to see your doctor promptly for treatment. You may need to take an antibiotic. If you do not treat mastitis promptly, it can turn into an abscess that could require disfiguring surgery to treat.
Summary: Know the symptoms of breast engorgement. Learn about complications of breast engorgement and when to seek help.