Risk Taking

Racing. Rock climbing. Parachuting. Fighting. They’re all risky, potentially dangerous behaviors—and ones that even if you avoid them in real life, you may still enjoy experiencing vicariously through a movie or video game. And while you may never stop pursuing thrills and fun, your likelihood to take major risks is shaped by two major things: your personality, and your age.

The reality is, young people take a lot more risks. That’s why rental car companies often restrict or charge a premium to drivers younger than 25—and very few murders are committed by people over 40.

So why is it typically young people who do crazy things and live life on the edge? Because the frontal lobes of our brains continue to develop during the late teens and early twenties. The prefrontal cortex is the brain area in charge of planning, decision-making, and anticipating cause and effect. Whether it’s sports, drugs, sex, or distracted driving, the worst-case scenario is usually far out of our minds. It’s easy to think, “It won’t happen to me.”

How can you make smart—and wise—choices?

• Balance the potential benefits and risks. Often getting out of our comfort zone is a good thing. Sometimes it’s not. Carefully consider the consequences of doing something new—or doing nothing, or doing what you’ve always done.
• Be open to the advice of more experienced people. Proverbs 15:22 says, “Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed” (NRSV). A trusted parent or another mentor may give you solid advice from their own hard-earned experience.
• Recognize the limits of your own judgment. The Bible says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Prov. 3:5). Pray fervently and ask your Heavenly Father for guidance. Claim the promise, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:3).
• Remember that God needs risk-takers. God can work with youth like no other people. God needs people who haven’t become spiritually complacent or short-sighted, who are willing to experiment and try bold new things for Him. God needs your energy and innovation. Don’t be shy about expressing your ideas, and don’t give up if people simply tell you something can’t be done.