I seem to know in my gut when I'm supposed to move on something. I just feel it. It can seem like I'm flying by the seat of my pants, and I guess I kind of am. But I'm not sure that's such a bad thing. It doesn't usually seem to steer me wrong. Whatever is sending those strong messages to move in a certain direction seems to be connected to the big picture, because in retrospect those gut feelings I follow just land me in what appears to be the best place for me, and it's often something I just couldn't have imagined for myself without the nudging from inside.
But here's another thought, having said that: what if it doesn't land me in the best place? What if I misunderstood or miscalculated? What if I heard it right but it all went wrong? What if it turns out to be a colossal mess? A big blunder? A swing and a miss? What if I was off, but I tried it? I'm taking a shot however it lands, right? And I'm somewhere new with new information, right? Right. (Right?)
Life is an adventure, and taking risks seem to be the doorway to those adventures. It's funny because what appears to be a risk when it's set out before me is often just a step out of my comfort zone when looked at in the rear view mirror. For me, anyway, risk is often hyperbole for I'm about to take what feels like a big step and I'm scared to do it. Risk shmisk. That word needs to be downgraded from the danger zone and upgraded to the adventure zone. The real risk I face, personally, is inertia. Now we're talking danger.
An adventurous life, for me, is a life in motion. I have to remind myself of this over and over and over again. Developmentally I'm a two year old when it comes to this--life tells me to make a move, take a risk, give it a go, and I hear it, but I'm not developed enough to hold it. So life tells me again. And I hear it, but I'm not developed enough yet to hold it, so life tells me again...The good news is, two year olds become three year olds, then four year olds, then five year olds. If we stay patient with them, and consistent with them, their little brains gain the capacity to hold the information. We help them manage their actions until they are able to do it themselves. Point being: I'm getting there, too.
Life is an adventure. A big, messy, painful, joyful adventure. Lets go shoot for the moon.