You Don't Have to Win It All to Gain Something of Value
Dwell in possibility
If someone offered you a chance to win $100—and you didn’t have to do a thing, no effort, no money, no time—but it was unlikely you’d win, would you still take the chance?
Probably not, according to research in Psychological Science. Across seven studies involving nearly 3,000 adults, Harvard University researchers found people have an "aversion to low-probability gains." Even when no effort or cost was required for a shot at their dream job or a monetary prize, many turned down the opportunity.
Are you kidding me?
Don’t Miss Out
Think about that. You have a chance to win $100 without lifting a finger. It’s unlikely you’ll win a dime, but you have nothing AT ALL to lose—and still, most people walk away, interpreting a “slim” chance as no chance.
We will do almost anything to avoid disappointment.
And in doing so, we miss out on so much more.
You can talk yourself out of anything. Play it safe. Overlook the importance. Downplay the possibilities and the gains. That is a sure way of playing small.
But when you view showing up as a win, you’ll always walk away with something. By showing up, saying yes, or giving it a try, you dwell in possibility.
Here are some everyday ways to practice this.
Apply for a workshop you’re nervous about—just to see what the experience is like.
Write a story and share it with a trusted reader.
Say ‘yes’ to the invitation—even though you want to say ‘no.’
Introduce yourself to someone new.
Participation is progress.
You don’t have to bet everything. But do be open to the possibility of something.
That’s how we grow. This is also how we discover happiness and abundance in unexpected places.
—P
Polly Campbell, Simply Said is a reader-supported publication. If you find value here, consider becoming a paid subscriber—it's less than the cost of one margarita a month. Your support helps me continue this work to inspire, encourage, inform, and entertain by sharing ideas that help us all live a little better.
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