When you live outside the box by taking smart, calculated risks to reap more rewards life gets substantially more fulfilling. I have experienced this first hand. Whenever you go against the grain and try new things life gets a bit riskier and way more fun. By going against the grain and become riskier, I’m not suggesting that you try something that you consider crazy. We are talking about “smarter” risks. It could simply be trying new, smarter foods, or new, smarter exercise regimens, meeting new people or taking a trip to a foreign city (notice, I didn’t say foreign country). Small calculated risks over time can pay off big when it comes you optimizing your life. The momentum that these risks build in your life creates some serious muscle over time.

Now, let’s assess where you are right now. Do you ever feel stuck in a rut? Like you’re doing everything that you’re supposed to do but your job or your life is staying in the same place? The idea of a hamster wheel comes to mind. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of building habits, routines , and rituals in your life. But the habits, routines, and rituals that you create should also create a sense of momentum in your life, not stagnation.

You’ve probably faced tricky tasks in the past and received the common advice that you should “think outside the box” — that we should move outside of convention to come up with an original idea or solution. Doesn’t it stand to reason that if you can solve one problem by thinking outside of the box you could perhaps solve many more of your problems by taking smarter risks and living outside the box? Something to consider, right? Stay with me.

Why Take Risks?

Many people who want to advance in their lives or careers but who also want to play it safe will habitually do what is expected and avoid taking risks in the hopes that not taking risks will shelter them from failure. While not taking risks does help to prevent failure, it is hard to exceed expectations while only doing what is expected. Exceeding the expectations of others is the quickest way to advance in your life and work, and it is done the most quickly by taking risks.

What Does It Mean To “Live Outside The Box”?

Taking risks doesn’t always mean investing in a precarious stock or quitting your job to join your best friend’s start-up.

Many people think of the box as being a physical structure, but you could think of the box as being written on paper. Forms that we fill out often have boxes that we check off, allowing other people to place us into certain boxes. By thinking outside of these boxes, we choose to define ourselves.

Living outside of the box simply means not limiting yourself from opportunities that may allow you to reach your full potential. Some ancient philosophies teach that opportunities do not arise unless we are ready to take advantage of them – and if we are not ready the opportunity will not pan out and so no harm will be done.

One of the best examples of this kind of thinking involves applying for jobs that you really want but that you aren’t confident that you can get. If you let the form define you, you’ll never know whether you could have gotten that job or not.

Risk And Failure

Applying for jobs that we might not get is only one example of taking a risk that’s outside of your comfort zone. Applying for jobs often feels risky because we might not get the job, but really, that’s the worst that could happen. Think about it. It won’t kill you if you don’t get the job. The only real risk is to your ego because you feel rejected. That’s really what’s happening here.

This is an example of the opportunity discussed above: If you are ready for the job you are likely to get it and if you are not ready for the job you are not likely to get it. Sometimes, we don’t really know if we are ready or not. If you get the job you may need to work very hard to meet your new responsibilities, and if you do not get the job you should be happy that perhaps you were protected from failure rather than sad that you are blocked from going down a path that you were not ready for. The real threat isn’t actually rejection. The real threat is the fear of rejection.

One of our greatest fears is the fear of failure but failure is often the worst that can happen. By taking the small risk of failure in instances that seem scarier than they really are – like applying for a new job – we open up a world of possible rewards and opportunities.

Taking Smart Calculated Risk

This article is about being aware of the opportunities that certain options pose and taking a calculated risk when necessary. It is not about blindly pouncing on every opportunity or abandoning everything that you have to chase a dream or a whim. Most people are not wired for this level of “all or nothing”. You shouldn’t feel “less than” if you’re not. Our society glamorizes these “all or nothing” level risk takers. When in reality they are few and far between. Taking smarter, calculated risks can transform your life one day at a time, if you let it. Taking risks is one of the fastest and one of the only sure ways to live a more successful and fulfilling life (outside of other’s preconceived boxes) but as Shakespeare famously wrote, “discretion is the better part of valor.” Be wise, take smart, calculated risks that enable you to grow over time without losing your shirt.

Be well + prosper,

Elaine