Truth Tuesday: Why Risks Are Worth Taking (and we should all be chasing butterflies)

I am not a risky person. As an introverted home-body, the idea of taking any risk is enough to get my stomach tied into knots.

On the other hand, I try to think about what my life would be like if I never took any huge risks, and it wouldn't be pretty. I'd still be in an unhappy relationship, I might have gone to business school instead of pursuing my dream, I probably wouldn't have any kids, and I never would have left my home state.

The biggest, most monumental events in my life all resulted from taking a huge risk. Some of those risks benefited me in a big way, other risks had no impact at all. The general rule of thumb is: if something gives you butterflies, you are on the right track!

I had butterflies when I turned down free business school (my mom worked at the university and her kids got free tuition) to move across the state and study science.

I had butterflies the day I broke up with my boyfriend to be with my best friend, who is now my husband of five years.

I had butterflies when my husband and I decided to move to Chicago with our two month old baby.

I had butterflies when I sent samples of my work to be featured in BRIDES Magazine. It didn't work out. Twice.

I had butterflies when I was asked to be Etsy's Featured Seller. Okay, that wasn't butterflies, that was full-on freak-out. But I got over the scary and embraced the opportunity.

I had butterflies just last week when I sent a LOT of samples to a national retail store to possibly carry my work. Even right now I am nervous of what will come of it - but if I don't take the risk, how will I ever grow?

Every time those butterflies fly into my stomach, I take it as a sign that something amazing might happen. As a kid, uncertainty is the scariest feeling in the world, but as an adult, it's the chance to do something great.

I wrote this post as part of The Maven Circle's Truthy Tuesday series, where you can ready more about risk-taking and what it can do for you. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the butterflies below.