The Dangers of True Happiness

Rebecca Lewis January 08, 2013

How far can you go to achieve your summum bonum? To what extent are you willing to take risks in order to be happy? Striving for happiness is sometimes a very risky business. There are people who are not afraid of the potential consequences of their actions just to experience pleasure and joy in life. Take the case of the thrill-seekers. Yes, you might think of the people in reality TV shows eating live worms and roaches, sniffing beer, jumping from a helicopter, bungee jumping from a 20-story building, and doing all sorts of dangerous things. Talking about happiness, most of us are prepared to die to get a taste of it.

Risks are an essential part of life. Whether it’s about love, career, or money, there are times when you have to take risks. But you don’t really want to expose yourself to a greater harm through them. Fortunately, you can learn how to become a good risk-taker. Here are some idea’s;

Practise risk-taking.

The more small risks you take, the more you become capable of taking larger ones. Take risks that make you slightly uncomfortable, experts suggest. As your comfort level grows, you can move on to bigger risks and increase your chance of getting through them!

Don’t be afraid of failure.

That’s why they are called ‘risks’. There’s a 50-50 chance of failing (sometimes even higher). In a study by the New York University, researchers found that people who have expectations of failing or losing were less worried and performed better than their colleagues. Before taking a risk, determine its worst possible outcome and devise a strategy to prevent it.

Be optimistic.

When it comes to taking risks, it really pays to be optimistic. While expecting failure, it is also necessary to hope for the best. Positive thoughts are very powerful and can significantly impact your actions and behaviour. Learn how to transform your negative thoughts into positive ones. You will be surprised with the end result!

Learn to balance risks and routines.

Don’t be too focused on taking risks. Or else, you might miss the little things in life that make you truly happy. According to psychologists, a healthy, thriving life requires both routines and risks.

Expand your insights about risk-taking.

By learning as much as you can about risk-taking, you can increase your chance of succeeding. According to Deborah Lupton, professor of Cultural Studies and Cultural Policy at Australia’s Charles Strut University, a heightened awareness about risk-taking leads to the desire to take risks.

Taking risks is indeed essential to achieving happiness. When you take risks, you will never go through life wondering what if and only if.

Dear Readers,

What was the biggest risk you have taken in your life so far? What did you do to increase your chance of succeeding?

Share your comments below!