_{Have you ever had a new opportunity arise and you're excited yet terrified at the same time? This has happened to me on several different occasions, and the decision I had to make was difficult. Whether you choose to take the leap or stay comfortable is entirely up to you, but one choice may lead to real fulfilment while the other leads to regret.}

_{One of the biggest decisions of my young adult life was the opportunity to move across Canada at the age of 18. I wanted to do something different and be independent. I wanted to move 3300km from my parents, brothers, and closest friends.}

_{I was excited, terrified, and hopeful of the future. Moving somewhere I had never explored before to go out on my own was the dream. Ultimately, I was scared of the unknown. A path that so many people tend to look at, then turn around.}

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_{This path can have the effect to alter the course of your life as you know it. The feeling deep down in your gut, fear and excitement can be a really good sign of a new venture worth taking. Whether it’s moving somewhere new like I did, changing careers, ending a relationship, buying a new home, or starting a new chapter in your life. It’s up to you whether you want to stay comfortable or take risks.}

_{Humans are wired to want to live in comfort. Change and the unknown can leave us stressed and worried. This is why so many people stay in jobs they hate for decades, others stay in relationships where there’s no connection, and some continue to hang out with friends who are negative and poor role models.}

_{The feeling you get when a new opportunity arises can be a huge telltale sign of when it’s time to jump. Without risk comes no reward. If you are afraid of tomorrow you will never take action today. This is true when it comes to career paths, investments, and overall decision making.}

_{While all risk isn’t equal, there are ways you can mitigate some of the risk. For example, when I was interested in moving across the country I had to come up with a detailed plan and list of actions. I had to figure out how much it would cost, where I would go, did I have any contacts there, what I was going to do there for a job or schooling, and much more. I didn’t just buy a plane ticket and leave the next morning leaving everything up to chance.}

_{Figuring out a roadmap will help you to understand some of the risks right out of the gate. I have never been a fan of just “winging it” so to speak. While this may work for some rarely, I think you’re far better off to prepare as best as you can in advance to achieve maximum results.}

If you decide to make the leap into a new venture I can’t guarantee you will succeed. But I can guarantee if you don’t make the switch you will regret it later in life. The lessons you learn through your hardships can be valuable tools in life.

Taking the leap to do something new, different, and scary will ultimately make you the person you were meant to be.

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3 Steps to Follow Your Gut

While everyone’s scenario will differ, the foundation of your planning will ultimately be similar. Here are 3 ways to create a plan when figuring out when to jump at this new opportunity or when to pass it up.

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1. List 5 of the top pros and cons

Figure out the top 5 pros and cons of what you are looking to do. There will always be positives and negatives to each situation. Whether it takes time, money, or other various resources to execute what you want.

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2. Know your timeline

Write down when you want to make this decision. A specific date will prevent procrastination and non action. Most people fail to act on new opportunities because they think they have an unlimited amount of time to decide. From my experience, if you don’t jump at new opportunities they can pass very very quickly.

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3. Ask yourself what’s the worst thing that could happen?

Be honest with yourself, what are you really afraid of? The things we worry about usually never happen. When I moved across Canada the worst thing that could happen was I would be broke with no money to survive and have to fly 5 hours back to my parents. When you look at the circumstances the worst thing that could happen is usually not as bad as you might initially think.

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Remember, the scared and excited feeling when something new arises in your life. That feeling is leading you to something new and special. An opportunity that is calling your name. If you fail to take the leap you may later be filled with regret.

Know that you are important and betting on yourself. If you are willing to put in the time, effort, and determination to succeed you will. You can do what you want in life. Start with this basic 3-step plan to get you off on the right foot. Support us on social and get more awesome free content! Till next week.

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Chris M Wilson