SWAN Saturday: Educated Risks

DenaApril 9, 2011

SWAN (Stop Wasting Away Now) Saturday is a weekly dose of inspiration from me to you. Each week I will make a short video post about something on my mind. The posts will be unscripted & shot straight from my soul. Stop wasting away now, life’s too short!


Click here if you can’t see the video.

This week, my SWAN post is about taking educated (or calculated) risks. Basically, I think that we should all be taking more of them! It’s been about six months since I left my secure job of three years to pursue a life that I am a lot more passionate about than sitting behind a desk for 8 hours/day, 5 days/week. When I decided to make that major change in my life, it was really scary; but I can honestly say that I do not have a single regret!

I’ve made some other educated “risky” decisions in the last year, too. In September, I went to Paris alone. It was the first trip that I took overseas by myself. Some thought that maybe it wasn’t such a great idea. Maybe a young woman should not travel alone in a foreign country. Maybe she should not couch surf and stay with strangers. But looking back, that trip was one of the most incredible experiences of my life!

In the next month, I’m about to take some more educated risks, too. And I feel really good about it! I’m not doing anything foolish. I’m not putting myself in danger or quitting a job to live on the streets. I am just taking steps to live the life that I’ve always dreamed of living. I am making decisions with my heart, my soul, and my gut. I am doing things that really mean something to me and things that I am really passionate about. My decisions may not live up to everyone’s expectations about how we “should” behave and how we “should” live. A lot of people seem to think that we are supposed to go to college and get a job with good benefits and stay at that job and not take any risks. But that life is not for me! I have greater expectations for my life than simply doing things because that’s what society says I “should” do. I would rather do what I want to do in an educated and informed way.

Today, I want to ask you to do whatever it is that you have been dying to do. Whether you’ve been wanting to hire a life coach to help you deal with your anxiety or start working with a personal trainer to shed those pesky 20 pounds or move to the other side of country to do what what you’re really passionate about—today I am telling you to go for it! Do your research. Make your plans. Make sure that this is what you really want and that this is something that you can achieve. Then make it happen! Don’t wait any longer. Start making it happen right now. Life is way too short to be miserable. This is such a great SWAN post, because I am literally telling you: If you are not happy with the way your life is going, stop wasting away now! Make your dreams come true. You are totally capable. I have complete faith in you. I can’t wait to hear about it, so get going and let me know how it goes!

Thanks so much for tuning in. See you guys next time!

In love & light,
Dena

Comments (4)

  • Lou Mello

    April 9, 2011 at 3:25 pm

    Loved the video, wishing you luck going forward with your plans and looking forward to your fitness posts as well.

  • Brad Chaffee

    April 10, 2011 at 12:32 pm

    Awesome video Dena!! Way to be an inspiration for others!

    Too many people waste away and they wake up one day old and unhappy. I know some of those people and glad that I will not be one of them. I’m a work at home dad and although I make nothing close to what I did before I quit my job I am MUCH HAPPIER. I get to spend the entire day with my kids and make some extra money while I do that. Best of all my kids have their daddy instead of some day care to teach them, love them, and to help them be who they want to be as they grow up. I love my life! I get to help inspire and motivate people with health and finances and there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing. 🙂

    Great post and super video! I look forward to more. 🙂 Keep doing your thing.

  • emery ruth

    April 12, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Oh how I love it when the road forms just before our feet. Thank you for your encouraging words.

    1. Dena

      April 13, 2011 at 11:12 am

      @ Lou – So glad that you enjoyed the video! I had so much fun making it. Video posts are my favourite lately. Keep an eye out for more. 😉

      @ Brad – You know, Brad….. I am always telling you what an inspiration you are to me — financially and physically — but I don’t say enough how much you inspire me personally! It is really amazing that you are a stay-at-home Dad. You manage to stay home with your kids and change people’s lives. You really are living — what I consider — to be a dream come true!

      I am so grateful to call you a friend.

      Thanks for the positive comments on the video. I love making them. I have posted a few others if you’re interested: http://evolutionyou.net/category/swan/ I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying.

      @ emery ruth – Thank you, darling. You are so sweet. Glad you enjoyed! XO

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