Leaps of Faith: Can We Afford Not to Take Them?

Posted on February 02, 2016 by Ken Abrams, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.

Some people go their whole life without taking a risk, without straying from the path they’re on, no matter how unpleasant it is.
Others leap from one adventure to the next, seemingly with no need for security or routine.

Most of us, though, fall somewhere in the middle. We choose our leaps of faith carefully, sometimes agonizing for years before taking one and sometimes regretting missed opportunities for years after the fact.

Where would we be today if people like Charles Darwin or Henry Ford hadn’t taken the leap? Darwin withheld his theory of natural selection for years, knowing the impact it would have. And what if Henry Ford had listened to naysayers and never tried to mass-produce an affordable car?

What Leads Us to Leap?

Our blinding desire to see our dreams come true sometimes makes it painful to keep things the same. We feel stuck and blocked from realizing our full potential, and that can be unbearable. As Anaïs Nin wrote, “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

For some, a leap of faith comes only after a long period of research and consultation, or after an assurance of success (or at least a minimal risk of failure). Others bypass those requirements and use the evidence from their past experiences of successful leaps. And others, like Darwin, are finally spurred by the threat of competition.

Choosing the Leaps Worth Taking

Every day offers forks in the road where we can either take a risk or do what we’ve always done. Small things like leaping through your shyness to say hello to a stranger, or larger things like starting a family or writing a book.

You may choose your leap based on intuitive hits or coincidences, such as people or things seeming to point you towards the leap you’re considering. Or your choice may be logical: you’ve done the research and your leap is sound.

What to Pack in Your Parachute

While there’s no way to guarantee the outcome of your leap, there are ways to cushion against disappointment.
1. Think it through. What are the possible consequences of your leap? Write them down and prepare for them.

2. Gather a support team. Make sure there are people you can talk to every step of the way—family, friends and others who appreciate what you’re doing.

3. Build reserves. Ensure that you have time, money and energy to see you through this period of uncertainty.

4. Adjust your attitude. Strive for success, but if the results are less than what you had hoped, accept that the experience has helped you learn and grow.

While your success is not guaranteed, resisting the call to leap could be far worse than falling short. What would you rather look back on: a failed attempt that led to something even better or a missed attempt that led nowhere at all?