The safe path is the risky path

“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”― Jim Carrey

True story:

Jim Carrey’s father wanted to be a comedian.

But it was too risky, he told himself, so he got a “stable” job as an accountant.

Several years later, the company he worked for went bust, throwing the Carrey family into years of financial difficulty.

In Jim’s words, his father:

“Failed at something he didn’t want to do.”

The silver lining, of course, is that Jim learned from his Dad’s mistake.

When his own chance came, he risked it all…

…And anyone who has seen Dumb & Dumber, Ace Ventura, The Mask, or Liar Liar (and the list goes on) thanks him for it.

Jim Carrey became one of the greatest comedians in history by taking the “risky” path of doing what he loved, with no guarantee that it would work out.

Because, if you haven’t noticed yet:

It doesn’t happen any other way.

There is no greatness without risk.

Every big shot comes with the very real risk of missing it.

But as Jim Carrey’s father found out too late, the bigger risk is not taking the shot at all:

Letting it slip by, giving up what you love for what feels less scary, and sliding into a safer path you didn’t want and barely chose.

Because, of course, you can fail at the safer path, too.

No path is without risk.

And the risk of taking the safer path is never realizing the true potential of your life.

– T

P.S.

Life doesn’t reward the wrong path.

At first glance, it may seem like the opposite of the lesson I shared above.

But look deeper, and ask yourself:

How might these two lessons fit together?

The answer reveals a far more powerful perspective on how to find your life path.

(we went much deeper on this in our “Co-creation” session at this year’s retreat — and the recordings are almost ready! Stay tuned…)

Taylor Allan Avatar