Focus on Mexico Blog

I had two very similar conversations this week. Both went something like this:

“I’m old now. I can’t take risks like I did when I was younger. It’s very important to me that I feel secure and I really don’t like change. I have basically had the same life for the past 45 years and I’m comfortable as I am. I am intrigued by the idea of visiting Lake Chapala to see if I might like it there but I really can’t see myself taking a risk by moving there to a foreign country….even if I like it.”

Both of these conversations left me questioning what is it about change that to one person feels positive and empowering and to another feels dangerous and uncertain?

What are the benefits in taking a chance?

You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  ~Wayne Gretzky

Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist says, “Take the question of where to live seriously. Don't let inertia push you toward a big-name city, the place you grew up, or your old college haunts. Make a conscious decision to live somewhere that will improve your quality of life by really understanding what your core needs and interests are–and will be.”

I found an interesting study published by Science Daily that addresses the differences in the ways that people deal with taking risks. They discovered that the willingness to take risks markedly decreases with age and they found, “What is particularly striking is that people who enjoy taking risks are more content with their lives.” (Emphasis mine.)