When you are attempting to create your adaptable life, it’s easy to be afraid of failure. After all, everything is changing. Why shouldn’t you be afraid of failing?
You can certainly be afraid. Go ahead. If your life is anything like mine, your life is filled with scary moments. On the other hand, what’s the worst thing that can happen?
When I ask people this question in the workshops I run, a couple of answers arise. Either people shrug their shoulders and don’t answer, or they answer, and say, “I’ll die.”
Okay, that’s a biggie. There’s almost always a middle ground between “nothing” and “I’ll die.” For me, that’s “I’ll fall down and hurt myself somewhere. Or, “I’ll make a fool of myself.” Sometimes, I don’t know which is worse—the fall or the fool!
And that’s where some risk management comes in. You can try just about anything with some risk management. For me, that means using a cane or walking sticks and asking for help. Or timing an activity around when I’ve eaten or making sure I’m hydrated. Or, letting a client know I have vertigo and I only look drunk.
Risk management helps you generate alternatives that allow you to proceed and succeed. Then you know that the best could happen, because you’ve considered the worst.