Take the Risk

Have you ever taken a big risk in your life? How did it turn out? Did you go back to school or change your career later in life? Did you spend a year abroad with your family learning about different cultures? Did you start a new business investing a lot of money? Did you leave your job to homeschool your child who was struggling?

I would love to know what risks you took and how it turned out. See, exactly 2 years ago I took a risk and got on a plane with my 6 month old baby to explore a place that would end up being our new home. It was all quite scary. A different climate, no friends, no established networks, and a very different way of life.

We took the risk and it was full of struggles in the beginning. I literally was petrified to go outside for weeks because of creepy crawly things. Our marriage was quite strained those first months, we suffered loss, we were still digging out of debt, and we were struggling to find work life family balance.

But the struggle was worth it in the end. We would find a place of healing, growth, overcoming, and strengthening as individuals and a family. We would find simplicity, true abundance, awakenings, and God’s revelations. We would be blessed with incredible friendships and family.

What if we hadn’t taken the risk? Where would we be? The only word I can think of is LESS.

If we hadn’t taken the risk and walked in faith then we never could have received the blessings he gave us here. Specifically a stronger relationship with God, a better marriage, a deeper connection with my children, new friendships, new clients to serve and people to bless, and a business that doubled in size in the 2 years we have lived here. WOW.

FAILURES

But with that said there are risks that can lead to failures or even worse. You know what I mean. Marriages that end in divorce, businesses that go bankrupt, the house you were going to fix up and flip becomes a money pit with little return, the friendship ends up being one sided, the person you brought into your circle of influence ends up stealing from you or others, and the list goes on. My husband and I have experienced many of these. When so many people have a failure or deep hurt, they stop trying, give up, or become jaded with their opinions and stop taking risks.  I think that is sad and much of it stems from unforgiveness. It is pretty freeing to really forgive and move on.

And lastly sometimes we take risks we really should not have taken. We get an idea, think it’s the best idea ever, and without any wise counsel we JUMP RIGHT IN. Are you like me? I have an idea, think it’s the best and then just GO GO GO… Aggghhhh that has cost me a lot financially and led to poor health.

So what is WISE COUNSEL? Wise counsel includes someone with experience in what you are setting out to do. Maybe you want to start a home business so you talk to your aunt who “tried” it for a couple of months. Your aunt failed at it and now thinks all home businesses are scams. She is not WISE COUNSEL because she has little experience and never got professional training to develop the skills of success. If you want to do something like become a realtor, then interview successful realtors and learn what it takes to be the best. Learn from several people who have had success but make sure you also investigate their family life, personal relationships, health, etc.

See, being the top dog earning multiple 6 figures a year may not be what you want if it means working 60 plus hours a week with no time for self care or family. You may have a goal to start a home business so you can have more quality time with your family. In your interviews you find a wonderful family who has the freedom and happiness you desire. It took them 4-6 years working 10 hours a week to earn  $30,000 residually a year. If they have the results you want then they would be some great WISE COUNSEL.

Here are a few scriptures about wise counsel:

Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 11:14
Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 19:20-21
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future. Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

Proverbs 15:22
Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.

So I encourage you to take risks, forgive your failures and hurts, seek wise counsel and then GO FOR IT! You will always miss 100% of the opportunities  you didn’t take.