The Greatest Risk|-|Rex Chimex Blog

Written by: Muoka Chibuzor G

What if you fail? What if you don’t?

According to the Wikipedia, Risk is the possibility of losing something of value. Values such as physical health, social status, emotional well-being, or financial wealth can be gained or lost when taking risk resulting from a given action or inaction, foreseen or unforeseen, planned or not planned.

Risk is a recurrent phenomenon. Its existence is seen when the results of undertaken activities reveal itself. E.g., two of the many risks of an extramarital affair are exposure to Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and divorce. Whatever activity that has risk attached to it, should be seen as a harbinger of danger, because of the clear possibility of incurring loss or misfortune while engaging in it. E.g., anyone who loves alcohol should always bear in mind that he or she is taking a health risk. Alcoholism is a health hazard and can cause liver cirrhosis.

When people talk of taking risks, most see it as a stumbling block, while others see it as a threat; and that is why the word "RISK" is one of the most seen diction in the dictionary of men who are extremely determined in what they do. In essence, to be successful in life, risk-taking is inevitable. But the question still remains; "what level of risk should one accept or reject?"

Someone can be determined to be godly and morally sound, while another might as well decide to be ungodly and immoral in actions. Either way, a man can decide on what to do, but cannot decide his fate nor escape the consequences of action at the end of the day. "There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction." - John F Kennedy.

However, a lot has occurred all in the name of taking risks; several people have become successful from risks undertaken, while some were very unlucky to be consumed by the same risks undertaken by the successful ones. "Both the victor and vanquished once rode on risky paths of life." - Muoka CG

Having observed such a scenario, one may ask; isn't life unfair? No, life isn’t unfair.

Why? Because of the diverse nature of human character and intellectual composition of which are all expressed in a life of varieties.

If everyone were the same, it means that what works for Mr-A would always work for Mr-B, but then, things don’t work like that because of human difference. When people understand their strength and weaknesses, they would surely know when to carry on or withdraw from an activity and be able to ascertain what level of risk they are willing to accept.

The meaning and consequential effect of risks would never change but then the magnitude of risks can differ. Risk can be classified as major and minor risks. Major risks are seen when people engage in activities that produce devastating results that they can’t handle. Minor risks are seen when people engage in activities that produce manageable risks. People with minor risks always cut their coat according to their cloth.

Understanding that risk-taking is every second affair is critical for life advancement. Wisdom is needed if one must undertake a major risk. Advisers may suggest to you, saying, "Why don't you try, if you try, you could possibly be a victor, but if you don’t try, it’s very obvious you belong to the vanquished."

Truly, they have stated their mind and what they said is true, but then, this moment is when to deploy your brain and innate wisdom to action. You should understand that inasmuch as there is no harm in trial, there is always a risk in trial. Therefore, being able to critically examine what you are being asked to do and also discerning your risk limit increases your chances of becoming a victor of life circumstances.

Risks can be incurred in two ways. It can be incurred as an individual or as a family, society, and nation.

When Freedom fighters arise, they have it at the back of their mind that they have emerged to rebel against a sitting government. They also acknowledge that the risk of human freedom and self-determination is costly and often demands the loss of life and destruction of properties. "I am not a liberator. Liberators do not exist. The people liberate themselves."- Ernesto "Che" Guevara

Thus it’s not a one-man affair; a single man does not fight for liberation. Thus, all hands must be on deck, they engender the people. The risks are then incurred as a freedom-seeking society (nation).

It’s only by collaborative efforts that the risk of such an activity is ameliorated. The 1967-1970 Biafran civil war featured the Igbo tribe as they rose and fought for freedom, but when their efforts were undermined by gross sabotage, they gladly accepted their fate having seen that their actions failed, and then they shared the risks of their secessionist actions amongst themselves. They felt sad, wept, consoled one another, and buried their dead men and women. They incurred the risk of genocidal actions by the Nigerian government.

If the smallest unit the society is the family, the functional units of the family are the individuals. If the individual should learn to engage themselves in activities that do not possess great risks which are capable of disrupting peace and order, the society would wear a better shape.

In the field of religion, man is a sanctuary because in his heart does the laws of godliness reside. His ability to desist from breaking the laws of the creator (God) reduces or erases his exposure to risks. In Christianity, the greatest risk any man can undertake is SIN. Whenever a man sins, a punishment (risk) awaits him.

The magnitude of sin (nature of evil activity) often determines the height of punishment; this can be seen in the book of Genesis when God judged the sin of the man, the woman and the snake. The downfall of man was as a result of the deadly risk incurred by eating the forbidden fruit. Just a little compromise, might be the greatest risk that can consume the life of a man.

Finally, it is a risk to face the unknown, to ask for what you want and chance. Rejection is better than Regret for having never tried. Taking risks to reach your goals is something you NEED to do because life is all about taking risks to get what you want. The Greatest risk is not taking any risk, but wisdom suggests that you take reasonable risks. “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.