Regret vs risk, what side of the issue are you on?

Depends on the issue. I hae rarely taken any big financial risks because security is more important to me than wealth. I have taken emotional risks – some have paid off and some have been devastating.

Pssst! ”...a has-been than a never-was.”

Bad results can and do happen, because that’s life, but most of the things people are terrified will happen as a result of taking a risk never happens. And if something does go wrong or you are rejected, the only person who can make one feel gutted about it is yourself. Even Nelson on the Simpsons does his “Ha-HA! and then moves along.

I’m coming to learn that it’s what we tell ourselves about failing, and not the failure itself, that is the problem. If we beat ourselves up over a failure, then we aren’t looking at what happened so that we can do better next time, or see what might be better path for us to take.

Most people are more emotionally resilient than we allow ourselves to be. I think we’re taught as kids that we’re supposed to make ourselves feel guilty or ashamed if something we attempt doesn’t come off perfectly, but that’s not true. It’s all right to review what happened, learn from it and move on. Dwelling on failure keeps us from taking risks that might actually benefit us.

I have to remind myself of these things daily, believe me.

Very much dependent on the issue. I’m currently looking at a part time job in another city. My pay would drop like a stone and I would be looking for a full time job to make up the difference, plus I would have to move to a new city and leave my friends behind, and the position is only a 1 year temporary position…. BUT its in my dream field, and it would get my foot in the door for further opportunities at that office….. if the job is offered I’m going to take it in a heart beat.

On the other hand, back in high school I found myself developing feelings for a girl I knew, despite having been in a nearly year long relationship with a girl who I knew in my head was about as good as it gets….. I left the girl I was with to try a new relationship, as I figured I was young and should get out there and try new things and dating around, or “taking the risky” approach…. It was by far the stupidest thing I’ve ever done in my life and I will never make such a mistake again. Even now, nearly 10 years later, I’ve found only one other girl who compares to that g/f I left.

I’m a very strong proponent of Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat…..... but it depends on the issue, and what my brain has to say.

@Janbb beat me to the same sentiments. And to elaborate a bit (because I’m sometimes long-winded), I HATE taking financial risks. They make me physically ill. I’m very conservative that way, which is probably why I’m still working. As for emotional risks, I’ve shyed away from some and regretted, and in some cases not regretted it. Ditto for the emotional risks I have taken. Life is choices; risks are unavoidable; and regret is the past-tense version of worry (interest paid in advance on a debt that never comes due).

I’m with @janbb. Risk needs to be balanced with rewards, so I can’t take a general stance on the issue. The most regretted opportunities not taken, however, seem to be the ones where what was at risk was not actually all that terrible in the long run. That is, people tend to most regret not doing those things where all there was to lose was a little bit of pride. Those risks I’m always willing to take.

Depends on what the risk is. For instance, I doubt that I will ever regret not playing lotto all my life and therefore voiding my chances of winning it. I know the odds are greatly against me so I probably saved myself alot of money by not playing all those years.

I might regret never attempting to start my own business, a dream I once had (and still do in the back of my mind), but this regret won’t turn my life upside down. This seems to be more of an issue with matters of the heart (taking a chance on love).

I’m not the type though to live with much regret. Though I do agree with ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained,’ I also value the level of comfort I have ascertained in life thusfar, and am not willing to risk giving up any aspect of my lifestyle for something that may or may not happen (at the moment).

Probably the biggest risk for me right now would be to change jobs. I want something that is more fulfilling, challenging, and of course pays more. I am smart enough though to wait at least until 1) I finish my master’s, 2) the job market/economy improves. I feel the need to stack the deck more in my favor, to me there is a difference between taking risks and taking ‘smart’ risks. I am not in a position to be careless with my choices either, as I might have been 10 years ago. I got a family to feed now.

I try to take a balanced approach. There is a big difference between taking a risk and being reckless. Any time one takes a risk one should have a pretty darned good idea of exactly what one stands to loose and what the chances of “success” are then ask themselves if the potential gains are worth risking the potential loss.

I do think things through when it comes to big decisions,but am apt to lean towards taking a risk.I recently did that with a health issue and it is paying off in a huge way.
Nothing ventured,nothing gained. ;)

I would say taking a risk because you never know what the outcome will be, which makes that exciting. :]

I’m totally with @YoBob on the issue. Lurve

I think this really is dependent on what it is.

An example where the Risk might outweigh the regret. Say I’m invited to an event, but I hear my ex that I recently broke up with may potentially be there, but on the other hand I hear its going to be a great time, and I could potentially meet a lot of new interesting people.

An example where the regret will definitely outweigh the risk is say driving drunk for example. I can think of several occasions where its been say Friday night and I’m at home having a few beers by myself and watching TV, and a friend calls me up to come over. I decline because I have already been drinking. I have never looked back and thought, man I should have just drove drunk that night.

Well if theres a really good tip for a horse, i just make sure the rents paid and theres food in the fridge. Sometimes you win sometimes you lose.
But hey theres always next weeks payday, and if you get up.. Then thats awesome.
I dont actually gamble much, but when i do, i do it properly.

I am almost always on the side of taking a chance. Yeah, not with the money stuff like some people have already said. But regret is not something I like to feel.

I don’t take risks with money, or with my job, but with pretty much everything else I will take the chance. Experience has taught me that things very rarely work out as bad as I fear they do.