Sometimes, the act of taking a risk, as much as we feel it might cost us, ends up paying dividends that far exceed any actual or perceived price we might have paid.

This was proven to me once again after taking my risk for yesterday, which was to sing in public.  A client of mine wrote a lovely program for her church, and I sang “Sweet Little Jesus Boy” as one part of the evening; one of story, song, and interpretive dance.  This shouldn’t be such a big deal, for a former opera singer, right?  Hah!  I can’t tell you how much angst I had over performing just this one song!

First of all, there was simply memorizing the words.  I had sung this particular piece many times, and had grown up hearing my mother singing it, too, but somehow, I still wasn’t sure I could do it without the music.  (At nearly 48, my memorization skills are not what they used to be.  Yet, I remember the words to songs like Seasons in the Sun and Billy, Don’t be a Hero – go figure!)

Next, there was the issue of taking care of my voice in preparation for the singing.  Luckily, I had only known that I was going to do this for about a week, so I only had that long to worry about staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, staying away from alcohol, not having too much caffeine, avoiding the germs of sick people, and wondering what each sneeze or little tickle in my throat might mean.

And finally, the day of the performance came, with its own challenges: What time should I get up?  How much warming up should I do?  What I will be best to eat, and how much, and when?    I could go on, but you get the picture.  And to think I used to LIVE like this.  Yuck!

Anyway,  the bottom line is that I did it.  And today, I feel glad I did!  Several people, after all, did say that it was beautiful and that it moved them.  And wasn’t that the whole point in the first place – to move people?  To touch their hearts, if only for a moment?  To me, that connection with those people, some of whom I know well, and some I will never see again in my life, made the whole rigmarole worth it.  And lo and behold, the reward I received was far greater than the price I paid.

What risk can you take, small or large, that will pay you far more in the long run than it costs you in the moment?

Laura Biering has an infectious zeal for coaching people who want to do enlivening work and live inspired lives. She's fired up about the power of taking risks - great and small - and the rewards that come as a result. She's also passionate about (1) creativity and authenticity and their potential to change the world, (2) frolicking with her adorable four-legged children, and (3) retreating with those she loves at her farm in Southeast Georgia, Brinson's Race. Visit her website at True Voices.
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