Risk: What it really means in our everyday lives?
Risk: What it Really Means
Risk, it is a phrase we use often as therapists, and more commonly it's usually associated with people battling addiction. But truly, risk applies to all of us. To me risk is simply, something you identify and acknowledge that takes you away from what you want (usually a person, place or thing, if we are going back to grammar school).
Risk is all around us, and acknowledging it is an important part of getting what we want, no matter what it is!
First a personal example
Let’s keep it real and simple, a lot of us wanna lose some weight and get in better shape. For me, it’s taking off a few pounds, and fit into clothes I wore a while ago. My ideal diet is spinach, ground turkey, oatmeal , black coffee, and water. But what is in that refrigerator that does not belong on the above list?
Cheese and Bacon (both delicious, and purchases I made when having company). Let’s keep it real I did not throw it out, because it tastes good, but what is left? Risk! Risk of putting cheese in my ground turkey, bacon with my egg whites, both things taking me away from my goals!
What might it look like for you?
Maybe you know for sure you can be short tempered, and lose your cool with your children. What do you want? To just lose your cool less! Is it easy? Hell no! But can we do just a little better? I think so.
Maybe your risk for losing your cool is the bedtime routine, knowing that one, two or three kids are going to not listen, push boundaries, and in a matter of seconds you are going to scream at them.
What do you want? To not lose your cool with your children
What’s your risk? Bedtime routine:
Simple Action: Tonight I am gonna make it a point to just not lose my cool during bedtime.
It’s a small win, but the small win’s count, and eventually add up, from bedtime, to morning routine, to homework. Or maybe it’s your oldest that gets you triggered to anger. Then start small, no matter what I am not going to lose my cool with my youngest. My point being is to know your risk!
Risk is about acknowledging, not perfection.
Here’s some simple examples:
Want to drink less, risk is acknowledging the alcohol is in the house.
Want to eat better food? Risk is acknowledging the junk food that is going to take you away toward your goals.
Want to yell and argue less with your wife? Risk is acknowledging something that really gets you ticked when you and your wife or other discuss it (maybe it’s money, or the children).
Moving it forward:
In my practice I am constantly pushing and working with clients toward small, simple wins that can be built on. If you wanna lose weight acknowledge the risk is the food in your home, bite the bullet acknowledge it, and bite it again by throwing one thing that should not be there!
While yes I used food as the low hanging fruit (no pun intended), this truly is a therapeutic concept that applies in our everyday lives. What do you want? What stops you from getting there? Acknowledge it! Then take that very small step forward!
Submit your questions
Submit any questions, topics, or anything on your mind to Joseph.Gherman24@gmail.com
I am more than happy to answer them in my next blog.
