Leaps of Faith: The Risk, the Reward, and the Raw Thrill of Taking Chances
There’s a moment, right before you jump—off the cliff into the water, into a conversation that could change everything, into a new job or relationship—when the world holds its breath with you. It’s the space between fear and possibility, and in that space, something ancient and electric hums in your chest. That moment is risk.
We don’t talk enough about it. Not in real terms. Not in the messy, beautiful, terrifying way it shows up in our lives.
Because let’s be real: taking chances is risky. It invites failure, heartbreak, discomfort. But it also cracks the shell of your comfort zone wide open and lets something new—something potentially breathtaking—get in.
The Psychology of Risk-Taking
Risk-taking is part of our wiring. Our brains are constantly weighing cost and reward. The prefrontal cortex handles logic and long-term planning, but the limbic system—especially the amygdala—lights up with emotional responses and instinct. The neurotransmitter dopamine plays a huge role, rewarding us for novelty and pushing us toward exploration (Zald et al., 2008).
People with higher dopamine activity often experience a stronger “rush” from risk. This doesn’t just apply to skydiving or bungee jumping—it shows up in how we approach relationships, career changes, travel, even vulnerability.
Some of us crave the thrill. Psychologists call this sensation-seeking: a trait characterized by a desire for varied, novel, and intense experiences, often involving physical or emotional risk (Zuckerman, 2007). This doesn’t make someone reckless. In fact, when channeled well, it can lead to bold innovation, deep self-discovery, and lasting growth.
Why We Take the Leap
We take risks for different reasons. Some chase the thrill. Some are seeking a change, a way out of stagnation. Some want to feel alive again.
Research shows that taking calculated risks can lead to increased confidence, resilience, and life satisfaction (Rauch & Frese, 2007). Even when a risk doesn’t pan out, people often report valuing the clarity and courage they gained by trying.
In therapy, I’ve seen clients reclaim parts of themselves through risk—trying a new city, ending a toxic relationship, switching careers, coming out, starting over. These aren’t impulsive decisions. They’re brave ones.
And sometimes, they lead to adventure.
The Consequences Are Real
Let’s not sugarcoat it: not all risks lead to reward. Sometimes, things fall apart. And the pain can be real.
Adventure carries risk by definition. The unexpected will happen. But here’s the paradox: growth rarely happens without that kind of tension. Without discomfort, failure, missteps. Brené Brown writes, "You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort. But you cannot choose both” (Brown, 2012).
The consequences teach us. If we’re paying attention, we learn where our limits are—and where they aren’t. We learn how to fall. How to get back up. How to recalibrate.
When Risk Becomes Renewal
There is a kind of magic that lives at the edge of fear. A voice that whispers: What if it works?
Even small risks—speaking up in a meeting, trying a new creative outlet, letting someone truly see you—can change the way you relate to yourself. They stretch your nervous system. They challenge the stories you’ve believed about who you are and what you’re capable of.
Therapy itself is a risk. So is healing.
How to Take a Healthy Risk
Name the Why – What are you seeking? Change, truth, connection, aliveness?
Evaluate the Cost – What are the possible outcomes? What support do you need?
Start Small – Build a tolerance for risk by practicing small discomforts.
Honor the Outcome – Whether it works out or not, acknowledge the bravery it took.
Stay Curious – Ask yourself what you learned, how you grew, and what it opened.
There’s no formula for risk. But there is a deeper part of you that knows when it’s time to leap.
You won’t always stick the landing. But you’ll land somewhere new—with a better view, a stronger spine, and a deeper trust in your own capacity.
After all, isn’t that what life’s for?
Sources:
Zald, D. H., Boileau, I., El-Dearedy, W., Gunn, R., McGlone, F., Dichter, G. S., & Dagher, A. (2008). Dopamine transmission in the human striatum during monetary reward tasks. The Journal of Neuroscience, 24(17), 4105-4112.
Zuckerman, M. (2007). Sensation Seeking and Risky Behavior. American Psychological Association.
Rauch, A., & Frese, M. (2007). Let’s put the person back into entrepreneurship research: A meta-analysis on the relationship between business owners’ personality traits, business creation, and success. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 16(4), 353–385.
Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. Gotham Books.
Want to explore the risks you’re ready to take? Let’s talk. You don’t have to jump alone.
www.artisteyecounseling.com