Sir Isaac Newton’s first law of motion tells us that an object that is at rest will stay at rest unless a force acts upon it.  This law has a great deal of relevance when it comes to having courage and taking risks.  Inaction is one of the major obstacles we face in our desire to change our lives or overcome a character weakness that is holding us back from the life we want.  It’s not only easier not to change, but we actually resist it. 

Accomplishing change always requires us to take some form of action.  But because risk-taking and making changes brings up feelings of uneasiness and discomfort, it is often easier to do nothing.  So in order to overcome our preference for inaction, we must ready ourselves for risk.  And that means we must confront our tendency towards inaction.

Inaction is not to be mistaken as laziness.  Where inaction is about resisting change, laziness is about avoiding effort.  From this perspective, being courageous and taking risks first requires a willingness to change, followed by the effort required for change to happen.  Without willingness to start, the whole process stalls.

Each of us is uniquely valuable. So why hide the truth of who you are?

Imagine what it might be like if everyone truly knew you, inside and out, what wonderful things you’re capable of, and how fully human you are, just like them.

There can be a great, false comfort in conforming and keeping your head down. But you sacrifice ever knowing your true potential. And you risk boredom; when the path is fully laid out for you, there's no adventure.

Being courageous has a lot of perks:

1. Greater fulfilment and personal satisfaction. Life has more meaning when it's filled with adventure and discovery.

2. Increased charisma. People will find you more interesting and pay attention to you more. Courageous people are attractive to pretty much everyone.

3. Greater ability to take risks and be creative. Your life will have more depth and you'll experience more success in every part of your life.

4. Opportunity. By being courageous, you stand a chance to change the world. And regardless of what you do, you'll surely be remembered. Courageous people do great things. Average people do average things.

Try these ideas to cultivate your courageous risk-taking:

1. Be aware of who you are inside. This may take some thought, especially if you spend all day working and all night watching television. Regularly spend quiet time with yourself. Contemplate who you are and what you stand for.

2. Express yourself freely. Give your opinions without judging yourself, especially when you're asked for them. Let people know what you think without being unkind. Allow yourself to have your own style, whether it's your taste in music, your profession, or just what to wear today.

3. Avoid worrying about others' opinions. The big secret is that they're probably worried about what you think of them. Chances are good that nobody is spending much time thinking about any of us. And there's nothing more attractive to others than someone that moves through the world confidently and without apology.

4. Take a small risk, be yourself and let the chips fall where they may. You'll be surprised how easy it is once you try it. It's analogous to being afraid of the dark; there's simply nothing there to fear.

Consider famous people like Abraham Lincoln, Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, and others. Do you know of another person who is anything like any of them? They’re originals.

By being courageous and taking risks, we move beyond our current circumstances, which includes our tendency to do nothing.  Taking risks requires us to act; it’s that simple.  We can’t get from where we are to where we want to be without some sort of movement.  And it makes sense to expect that the farther you are from where you want to be in your life, the more action required.  This action will take more energy, generate more discomfort, and demand more sacrifice.  There’s no getting around the fact that risk-taking is not easy.

But it is necessary if we want to make change in our lives.  So rather than letting the idea of taking a risk stop us both mentally and physically, we need to trust that the reward is worth every bit of fear, discomfort and sacrifice.