I was traveling the world when a pandemic hit. I quit my job assuming I’d be able to go back to the corporate world when I was ready to do so. I chose to live in Bali for months, instead of going home. I made a lot of wild decisions this year - and I don’t regret any of them.

If someone were to ask you, do you regret decisions you’ve made or decisions you haven’t made, what is your answer? For me, this year was all about Nike. “Just do it.” This is my motto this year and forevermore because for me - I’d rather live and fix my regrets than spend a life wondering what would have happened. This thought process led me to a lot of experiences, most of which I wouldn’t change even if I could. Because whether my decision led to triumph and a cool story, or a bad night and an experience that I grew from, I still came out better in the end. I’m more knowledgeable, wise, and sure of myself. 2020 didn’t go according to plan for most of us - but I can say, very gratefully, that I had a much better year than most everyone else. I had a year that people don’t get to dream of - even in their normal lives.

I recently read a book that touched on this idea. It shared a theory that we as adults are not equipped to take on challenges with an unknown ending. As children - we wake a class, which will result in passing or failing. We’ll play sports with each game ending in a win or lose. We ask someone out - knowing we’ll get either a yes or no. But then adulthood hits and.. nothing. We are forced to make decisions with no clear result, good or bad. It’s just a big mystery. This is partly due to the longevity of our goals, as childhood contracts tend to be more short term. Is marrying the person in front of us good or bad? Only time will tell. Will starting this company be a risk that proves to be fruitful or are we setting ourselves on a path of financial disaster?

Most of us are risk-averse - which means we don’t love putting ourselves in these types of decision-making moments and when we can avoid them, we do. That’s why people dream of quitting their jobs and traveling but rarely do. It’s because you are aware of the situation you’re in. You may not love it, but it’s comfortable and your other choice may leave you worse off. People choose neutral situations over unknown ones.

So even though people say it all the time - I hope you take more risks in 2021. I hope you risk an unknown situation because it is better than your ambivalent one. Trade it in for a mystery, because it will at least set things in motion to put you on the path that will bring you your happiness.