Have you spent much of your life being afraid of trying new things?  Have you lived your life afraid of what would happen if you failed at something new?  Have you wondered what your life would be like if you weren’t afraid so much of the time of doing something totally new?  If these questions resonate with you, then you need to keep reading…

Many People Are Afraid of Taking Risks These Days

As anxiety has gripped our country and much of the world in the last year due to the pandemic and all the social, economic and political upheaval we’ve been living through, so many people have suffered mightily because of debilitating anxiety and fear.  Now, as things are starting to open up again in the US, many people continue to be plagued by debilitating fear and anxiety around doing something they either used to do or need to do differently.  It may be something you did on a regular basis before the pandemic, like going to work at the office, or it may be something you’ve always wanted to do.  The basic problem is you are so gripped by paralyzing fear that you can’t seem to bring yourself to do that thing.  

How Harvey Penick Can Help You in Taking Risks

If you’ve ever played the game of golf, you probably know the name Harvey Penick.  He was a famous golf teacher in Austin, Texas.  His book entitled Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book has been a help and source of inspiration for many, many people who have played golf over the years.  I was never a golfer until last year when Covid happened and I needed a new sport to play.  I started getting into it and discovered I actually liked it.  You may have started to learn something new and realized you had no idea what you were doing, and that was very much the way it was for me as well.  I started reading Harvey’s Little Red Book just within the last few months and discovered that I could take a risk and not be afraid of being an absolute beginner.  The encouragement and life lessons offered in this book can inspire you to at least try golf and not be afraid to appear stupid, and this can translate into having more courage for making more positive changes in your life as well.  

Some Key Points to Keep in Mind While Taking Risks (From Harvey Penick)

1.  Take Dead Aim:  One of the things to keep in mind while golfing and while embarking on doing something new are to know what you are aiming to achieve.  It doesn’t matter if it’s making a long putt or starting a new job in a new city, being able to identify exactly what you are striving for is important.  It doesn’t matter what winds up happening, as long as you take ‘dead aim’ for what you are trying to do.  

2. Don’t try to make your way of taking risks conform to someone else’s idea of how to do things.  This is true of a golf swing that you like and works for you, as well as for how you like to do things.  Sure, there are more effective and less effective ways to do things, but you don’t have to copy anyone else or think that your way is wrong just because the ‘experts’ don’t do it that way.  

3. Focus on the ‘short game’ as the best way to improve overall:  Taking risks doesn’t necessarily mean you have to do something grand (like launching a great drive shot) to be successful.  Taking risks can be done in very small ways that can build up to something big.  You don’t have to go on an African safari to go on a big adventure.  You can simply go to a local state park or join the local Sierra Club and go on hikes in your area to experience nature, if that’s something you normally enjoy.  It’s what you take from the experience more than how far you go in taking a risk.  Bringing up an uncomfortable topic with your spouse can take more bravery than bungee jumping, as another example.  

What To Do If You Need More Help in Taking Risks

Some people are tempted to turn to chemicals to help give them the courage they need in taking risks, but you are better off to seek out the help of a mental health professional if fear and anxiety are keeping you from making the important changes you need to help turn your life around.  I’ve been helping people to overcome fear and anxiety for my entire 12 year career.  I use some very helpful forms of therapy like EMDR and Image Transformation Therapy (ImTT), and can help give you some tools for helping in taking the risks you need to take to get your life back.  If you want to find out whether I can help you, please reach out by calling the number above or filling out the form at the bottom of the page for a free 20-minute phone consultation.  That is a risk worth taking that can pay huge dividends for the rest of your life!

Visit our page on anxiety therapy to learn more about how Scott can help you with taking risks.  

About the author:  Scott Kampschaefer, LCSW is a private practice therapist in Frederick, Maryland.  He has an extensive background in working with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder at a clinic for older adults with these disorders in Austin.  He now works with adults and adolescents 14 and up in private practice. His most recent book is titled The 5 Pillars of Addiction Recovery and is available for purchase on Amazon and in paperback on this website.