Even though I didn’t make any New Year’s resolutions this year, I’d still like to take some time in January to reflect. Now at the 10-month point into the pandemic, I know a lot of us are feeling stuck, uninspired, and complacent with where we are in life. Instead of dwelling on what I haven’t done and the hardships 2020 brought, I’m thinking back on all the risks that I’ve taken in the past and how they’ve led me to where I am today.

It’s Time to Take a Risk & Challenge Yourself

As we find ourselves with more time at home, I encourage you to take a break from some of that Netflix binging (hello, Bridgerton, I love you) and take a minute to think about what you really want out of life. Challenge yourself to take a big risk in this moment. For example, if your job is feeling stale and like it’s holding you back, why not peruse themuse.com and send your resume out to a few that sound interesting? You have nothing to lose by sending out 3-5 resumes this week. Who knows what could happen! It might be scary, but maybe this is your chance to move to that city you’ve always dreamed of and start creating a life there.

Risks help to build confidence & open up possibilities

I’ve felt “stuck” in life before, but here are 3 moments when I took a big calculated risk and it paid off. Whether it be something big (like moving cities) or small (taking an online French class), I hope this inspires you to explore a passion further in 2021.

3 Moments in My Life I said “Why Not” & Went For It

Auditioning for The Bachelor

This is an obvious one, but it was truly a huge risk that changed my life. At the time, I was only 23 and just didn’t know what to do next in my life. I was 4 months out of a relationship and in a job that wasn’t fulfilling. I felt raw, lost, and confused. So, I stood in line with 400 other women at Hard Rock Casino in Cleveland, Ohio. And, well, you know what happened next – I got casted! If I hadn’t taken that risk I never would’ve gotten that opportunity and all of the ones that have followed as a result since.

Moving to NYC

After I finished filming the show, I felt alone, lost in a sea of my own emotions. I was just rejected…on national television. Going through a break up is hard enough, but to navigate this publicly was uncharted territory. After feeling like I didn’t have a say in my life, I wanted to take control of my happiness. So, I interviewed for a job in New York (got it!), packed up my stuff, and moved all within one week.

I’ll be honest, moving to New York wasn’t something I had been dreaming about or ever really wanted. I was afraid of this city that seemed like a gargantuan monster for me to face. But I was in need of a change, so I took a calculated risk & worked for a small start-up, as I tried to find myself. Not all risks pay off right away. It took me full year to feel comfortable in NYC. But it was a growing experience that I needed as a woman in her mid-20s pulling herself up and out of sadness.

Quitting my Job to Become a Full-Time Blogger

It feels like another lifetime, but before I was a blogger I worked as Head of Marketing for a start-up. I was in that role for 8 months during the day as I blogged on the side at night. Being a creative and starting my own website was my passion project and I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to turn it into a career.

But that didn’t come easily. I put months of blood, sweat, and (mostly) tears into creating content, a brand, and nourishing a community on social media. After those 8 months, I felt like I could branch out on my own. I took the risk of quitting my job, started my own business, and never looked back.

I feel like I was supposed to be single during this time. Otherwise, I really don’t think I would’ve given it my all. I needed all those sleepless nights to invest all my time into the website and not dating. I spent a lot of time with myself and learned to love the woman I was becoming. Whether your passion project is creating an Etsy shop for your watercolor paintings or starting a wellness Instagram to Livestream yoga workouts, invest in yourself and then you’ll see the payoff in loving what you do.

These are 3 vulnerable moments in my life that I hope encourage you to challenge yourself. To not just follow the path you’ve been given, but to pave a new one! Use this time when things are quiet to take that big risk. The moment is now. Life really is too short to wait for good things to come to you.

With love,

Caila