2004 is drawing to a close and I have an alternate suggestion to the New Year’s Resolution drudgery we subject ourselves to every January 1. Instead of setting up promises for the coming year, answer this question and then… make 2005 the year you make it happen! What risk do I wish to take this year and how will it enhance my life?

The classic Aesop tale describes a group of mice meeting to figure out how to defend themselves from attacks by the cat. One wise rodent points out that a bell around the neck of the cat would herald the cat's movements and thus all the mice could escape the feline’s clutches in time. The mice agreed that a bell was indeed a brilliant solution, and after a long pause, one inquired, "Who will bell the cat?" Not a creature stirred. The moral of this tale: Many a plan has just one flaw: No one has the courage to try it. For many of us, opportunities to take risk and ‘bell the cats’ in our lives show up in terms of conversations—maybe confrontations—with people who are making us miserable and impeding our growth and happiness. Bosses who micro-manage us into oblivion, friends whose tongues are so sharp they lacerate those they love best, dishonest colleagues, sadistic managers whose ‘stretch goals’ are unrealistic and painful. And most of us, when faced with an opportunity to bell a cat and make our lives more tolerable rationalize ourselves into tongue-tied submission. That persistent inner voice ‘the iddy biddy shiddy committee’ cautions “what’s the point, she’ll never change,” or “I could get fired or back-burnered for speaking the truth,” or “why should I be the one it’s really his problem.” ‘Belling’ requires courage and courage usually arrives with its faithful handmaiden, fear. The big question you should ask yourself about ‘belling the cat’ is what will happen if you don’t? It is quite clarifying to reframe the risk in this way. When we actually look at an untenable or sub-optimal situation objectively, acknowledging the level of compromise, disappointment, worry or failure that accompanies it, it’s a lot easier to shut down the inner voices and take bold action. Engaging in a tough conversation with your boss, peer, friend or spouse inevitably clears the air. This is not to say that you will always get the behavior change you want! But you will always be proud of yourself for speaking the truth and for standing up with integrity around issues that matter to you. On another note, there is a category of risk-taking that does not fall into the interpersonal arena. These are the risks we take when we change careers, champion new initiatives and challenge the status quo. It is much harder to quantify the outcome of these risks because once in motion they grow like a snowball rolling downhill. These risks have the potential to seismically change our worlds – for better or for worse -- and for that reason the voices in our head are usually in full chorus. But the simple truth is that progress always involves risk. Somebody said “you can't steal second base and keep your foot on first,” and they certainly understood something about risk. When you have made up your mind to embark on a risky path, you will find that the ground moves beneath you. You have jettisoned the safety of the known in favor of the opportunity you believe resides in the unknown. And the truth is, you won’t know if you were right until you go all out after the vision. The biggest disservice you can do yourself as you champion a big risk is to reside in fear. You must tame that animal or it will undermine your ability to stay the course. But how can you quiet the fear? First, pay attention to the fear: listen to your concerns and separate out paranoia and cowardice from legitimate concerns. Once you've done your calculus if the risk is still attractive you must talk yourself ‘off the ledge’ each time your fears threaten to derail you. Remind yourself that you are choosing the risk with full knowledge, forethought and excitement. Remind yourself that you are capable of dealing with any outcome. Remind yourself that you are ready and eager for change. Remind yourself that only you can move your own life forward! So this New Year, consider whether there is a risk waiting to be taken in your life. And if it feels good, has your stomach churn a bit and excites you down to your toes, well then, why not take it? "The dangers of life are infinite, and among them is safety." -- Goethe.