Everyone wants to be successful. Often, though, we don't like to take the risks that come with trying to hit the next level of success. Is there anything wrong with that?

Risks can be dangerous. They can change everything and make a lot of chaos occur. So people typically don't like change. Most of us don't like chaos. We cling to normality and predictability. It's the natural response that our biological selves use to avoid pain. The issue essentially boils down to this:  why risk losing what you've got for something that may not work out?

We have lots of cultural expressions for that idea. "One bird in the hand is better than two in the bush." "Out of the frying pan and into the fire." "The grass is always greener on the other side." These sayings try to convince us that being safe and secure is a great value.

They speak to one part of our culture and our psyche. But there is another, much more inspiring part of our culture and psyche. It's the part that makes us excited to be alive and to have opportunities. It gets us excited for the possibility that we could win big time. This other part is responsible for the great things that our society has accomplished. America wouldn't have been colonized without that spirit. The Olympic Games wouldn't happen without that spirit. I dare say none of us would have been conceived without that spirit.

On the other hand, the dark, fearful need to seek security is responsible for most of the worst things we have done as a society (e.g., wars of aggression, Apartheid, the Japanese internment during WWII, the current crash of economic confidence, etc.).

I think this is what Jesus meant when he said, "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." If all we are concerned with is saving ourselves, we become darkened inside and lose our divine essence. We have to live for more to be able to become more substantial people. We have to learn self-discipline and take risks.

What does self-discipline have to do with it? Discipline comes from the word disciplinus, meaning pupil. To discipline means to teach or cause to learn. So self-discipline means to cause yourself to receive instruction and direction from yourself. Self-mastery requires that you decide for yourself what you will be, and what you will do. Self-discipline allows us to push away fear and act with boldness, purpose, and mission. The self-disciplined person willingly takes risks to accomplish her mission, because the mission is everything.

In contrast, if we act based on fear, we don't have a true sense of mission for our lives. We let forces outside ourselves decide what we will do or not do. We live lives of mediocrity because we are afraid of failure. Even if things really stink, we prefer to plug our noses rather than look for something that would make us happier. We are afraid that it could stink worse if we leave where we are. When we give in to fear, we are constantly looking at the negative in life and miss all of the magic. Even when we have a burning pit in our stomachs, we'd rather sit right where we are. We put blinders on ourselves by rationalizing that the troubles we are currently experiencing aren't so bad.

When we give in to fear, we tell ourselves not to look at the grass on the other side, because either we're too lame or unworthy to actually get over there, or the grass isn't really that green after all. We devalue ourselves and our opportunities in the process.

When we are afraid, we also devalue God, his love, and his power in our lives.

We are capable of so much goodness and personal progress. But when we're afraid that we'll lose our security, we make ourselves dark inside by losing faith in ourselves and in God's love for us. We stop looking for Him to perform miracles in our lives. If you feel stuck, hopeless, or depressed right now, I would suggest that this is most likely your problem.

No lasting joy comes from pursuing safety. The only joy we get from safety is the temporary relief of being saved from disaster. There may be the absence of pain, but that's not the same thing as joy. After a while, the importance of safety and security becomes unnoticeable to us. Life then becomes boring and tasteless.

Consider the 1907 London newspaper advertisement that Ernest Shackleton took out in the when he needed a crew to attempt his trip across Antarctica:

Wanted: Men for hazardous journey. Low wages. Bitter cold. Long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in the event of success.

Whether or not it is really true that he took out the ad (nobody has found the source yet), it is true that he was flooded with about 5000 applications. There is something in us that craves variety and accomplishment, even in the face of great risk.

My political science professor in college was fond of saying, "Security is the scarcest resource in the world." Everyone is looking for it, and nobody finds it for long. Wars are fought primarily over security. The need for security is what makes our economy limp along instead of exploding with progress. It's why America is in 17th place in the world for Internet access bandwidth speeds. It's the reason why you get up and go to work even when you hate your job. You're trying to hang on to safety and security. You want to make sure that you keep eating and enjoying all of the things you like in life. So seeking security is not done so much out of faith, usually, but out of fear of losing something.

The problem, however, is that we, as puny human beings, don't really control a lot of what happens to us. The idea that we can somehow provide absolute security for ourselves is an illusion.

Have you ever faced the mighty power of nature? I've stood on the tops of snowy mountains and looked at the vastness of hundreds of peaks surrounding me. I've body surfed ocean waves. I've paddled down wild rivers. I've taken a few good falls while rock climbing. The impression I've gotten when I have done those things is one of amazement at how awesome the difference in power is between me and nature. I get the same feeling when I look up at the night sky and think about how many billions of billions of other people are up there on other planets.

We're all on a big, heavy log raft floating down the river of life. We think we can paddle to save ourselves from dangers, but the truth is that we can't move the raft much in either direction. If we're going to crash into the boulders, we can't really stop it from happening. Stuff is going to happen to us, and we don't have too much control over it.

China could decide to dump the US dollar tomorrow, and all of our money would be worthless. (That's what I've heard, but it's debatable). Computer workers in Asia or South America could take our jobs tomorrow. The Internet could have a major melt down due to giant DDOS attacks from a few very knowlegeable people. The banks could go out of business (again) and the government may not have the resources (or political will) to stop it from happening the next time. The grind of technological change could make our jobs obsolete. Accidents or illnesses could take away the people we love.

We just don't have the control that we think we do. It's my belief that God does, though, and that's what gives me true hope. Just think about it. If God really exists, and he really loves us, wouldn't he be willing to help us? I testify that he does.

When Jesus fed the 5000, some time after giving the Sermon on the Mount, he was showing us our true relationship with God. The truth is that God does care, and he is already taking care of us. His actions are just mostly invisible, so we don't recognize them. All we have to do is ask for his help, and he'll give it.

In fact, that is the main theme of the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 5) He was warning the people about the philosophy of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, which was that the credit for our success comes from our own actions. They believed only what they could see, and what they saw looked like they had provided everything for themselves out of their own goodness. That belief led them to great heights of pride and selfishness.

Later, after Jesus had performed another miracle and fed 4000 men (plus women and children), Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee and started to preach. (Matt. 16) When his disciples arrived, Jesus told them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven [bread] of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." The disciples thought he said that because they had forgotten to go buy bread. He said, "O ye of little faith..." He then reminded them of the two miracles where He, Immanuel (God With Us), provided all the bread that was needed. He then asked, "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" They then understood. Jesus was pointing out the falseness of the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious leaders of the time, that good things come from our own genius and work. Jesus was trying to explain that good things actually come from God--not because we deserve them, but because of His grace and love.

So doesn't that take the pressure off of that decision to take that risk you've been putting off? Your success is not totally up to you. Neither are your failures. God gives them both to us in order to bless and test us.

God is there to help you, and you don't have to worry that things won't work out. Couldn't you just pray for help and then get to work with confidence that someone with way more power than you is there to help you? Where is the risk in that? And even if you do fail, God is there to catch you and help you to try again.

What could you do without any fear? Really think about that for a minute.

It's time to get going. Have faith in yourself, your opportunities, and in your Heavenly Father. Pray with faith, believing that He will help you. Be diligent, knowing that God will multiply your efforts.

And don't worry about whether you're making the perfect decision or not. You'll know deep down when the risk is something that is good for you. If it is right, your soul will enlarge within you, and therefore, you will know that it is right. (see Alma 32:26-43) Thinking about a good goal will make you feel excited and hopeful. You'll see it working out wonderfully in your imagination. You'll feel inspired. As long as you feel those things, go for it.

Jump in with both feet and work it out together with God.