Take the Leap: The Power of Healthy Risk
When’s the last time you took a chance? Stepped out of your comfort zone and tried something you were afraid to do?
Have you ever just said yes to those plans? Jumped feet-first into a new hobby? Maybe you took a new route home, struck up a conversation with someone new, or finally shared something you’ve been creating in secret.
Healthy risk-taking is a powerful way to mix up our routines, add excitement when we’re feeling stuck, and open up our world. Growth doesn’t come from staying safe and comfortable — it comes from leaning into the unknown, even just a little.
Think about the people we admire most: innovators, artists, athletes, leaders. None of them got there by playing it safe. Oprah Winfrey was once told she wasn’t “fit for TV.” Instead of giving up, she leaned into what made her unique, empathy, curiosity, and authenticity and changed television forever. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team before becoming a legend. Steve Jobs famously said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Healthy risk doesn’t always guarantee success but it always guarantees movement. And movement is where growth lives.
When I was in high school, a teacher once told our class we could do whatever we wanted for our final project as long as we tried our best and connected with it.
“You could even write a song,” he said casually.
I remember thinking, Wait… I could make a song for school? That one small invitation changed the trajectory of my life.
The first lesson was realizing I could think outside the box and it would be okay, even if it didn’t go perfectly. The second was realizing I could connect my passions with my practice. Fast forward 18 years, and I’ve built a career intertwining music and psychology creating social-emotional songs and videos that teach kids about feelings, kindness, and confidence.
It all started with one small risk raising my hand and saying, “Okay, I’ll try something different.”
So, what’s your version of that?
Maybe you love drawing but have never tried ceramics, dip your toes in and see what happens. Maybe you love running but have always wanted to join a group race. Or maybe your healthy risk is emotional, reaching out to someone you’ve lost touch with, applying for that opportunity you’ve been overthinking, or sharing your creativity with others.
Your Challenge
This week, take one healthy risk, something that feels just outside your comfort zone but still safe enough to try. It might not go perfectly, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t success, it’s courage.
Write it down, reflect on how it felt, and remind yourself:
Growth doesn’t happen by standing still.
