The Ups & Downs Of YOLO
While yes, some aspects in life do require us to jump the gun and be risky and fearless, sometimes, the line between risky and impulsive can be blurry, and we don't always have 20/20 vision.
When done wrong, 'YOLO' as a mantra can be destructive and lead to consequences we couldn't handle.
So, when do we embrace 'YOLO' and when do they say 'Not now'
For starters, this isn't the be-all and end-all guide to know when to go full risk taker, but it's a simplified version of understanding 'YOLO' and knowing how to embrace it or leave it.
So, the first thing you need to acknowledge is…
Is It The Right Timing?
Let's mention a simple example that demonstrates the concept of when to drop 'YOLO.'
Say you are at the end of the month and you have barely enough money till the next paycheck, only to see a huge sale on something you like to buy. Ask yourself this question: Is it a vital thing you need, or is it something you can buy later on?
So this time, there's no need to follow the 'YOLO' concept and be cautious about what you're going to do.
Are You Doing It For The Plot or Do You Need To Be More Adventurous?
Raise your hand if you put yourself in a situation that's too risky because you wanted to have an entertaining story, not because you've been waiting to do this thing.
I think it's safe to say that we've all been guilty of doing things 'for the plot,' not because we want to do them.
'YOLO' as a mantra is good if you want to get out of your comfort zone and try new things, but is it always the right thing to do?
Do you really need to try new things to get out of your shell, or is it a plea for attention and seeking thrills out of boredom, without thinking of the consequences?
Before jumping the gun, you should sit with yourself and wonder if your actions are based on being adventurous or reckless.
Are You In The Right Mental State to Apply 'YOLO'
In the first point mentioned above, I mentioned financial risk when applying YOLO, but what about the mental risk?
To fully embrace YOLO, being a risk taker and embracing yourself if things go south, are you okay mentally, and can you handle it when things don't go your way?
Risks and impulsivity require levels of carelessness and a calm state of mind.
It's not driven by irrationality or emotionality or having a weak state of heart and mind.
YOLO is about going all the way, betting it all like in a casino, willingly risking it all, either you win or lose, but either way, you have already embraced yourself to go in those directions.
So, before YOLO, you should be sure of yourself and in a peaceful state of mind.
After all said above, I cannot dissuade you from YOLO-ING, but I can give you a heads-up.
Risks are necessary and crucial, but you should at least know what's coming ahead.
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'YOLO' ('You Only Live Once') was a term popularized in 2011, and ever since then, everyone has taken it as a mantra to live life to the fullest and take as many risks as possible. While yes, some aspects in life do require us to jump the gun and be risky and fearless, sometimes, the line between risky and impulsive can be blurry, and we don't always have 20/20 vision. When done wrong, 'YOLO' as a mantra can be destructive and lead to consequences we couldn't handle. So, when do we embrace 'YOLO' and when do they say 'Not now' For starters, this isn't the be-all and end-all guide to know when to go full risk taker, but it's a simplified version of understanding 'YOLO' and knowing how to embrace it or leave it. So, the first thing you need to acknowledge is… Is It The Right Timing? Let's mention a simple example that demonstrates the concept of when to drop 'YOLO.' Say you are at the end of the month and you have barely enough money till the next paycheck, only to see a huge sale on something you like to buy. Ask yourself this question: Is it a vital thing you need, or is it something you can buy later on? So this time, there's no need to follow the 'YOLO' concept and be cautious about what you're going to do. Are You Doing It For The Plot or Do You Need To Be More Adventurous? Raise your hand if you put yourself in a situation that's too risky because you wanted to have an entertaining story, not because you've been waiting to do this thing. I think it's safe to say that we've all been guilty of doing things 'for the plot,' not because we want to do them. 'YOLO' as a mantra is good if you want to get out of your comfort zone and try new things, but is it always the right thing to do? Do you really need to try new things to get out of your shell, or is it a plea for attention and seeking thrills out of boredom, without thinking of the consequences? Before jumping the gun, you should sit with yourself and wonder if your actions are based on being adventurous or reckless. Are You In The Right Mental State to Apply 'YOLO' In the first point mentioned above, I mentioned financial risk when applying YOLO, but what about the mental risk? To fully embrace YOLO, being a risk taker and embracing yourself if things go south, are you okay mentally, and can you handle it when things don't go your way? Risks and impulsivity require levels of carelessness and a calm state of mind. It's not driven by irrationality or emotionality or having a weak state of heart and mind. YOLO is about going all the way, betting it all like in a casino, willingly risking it all, either you win or lose, but either way, you have already embraced yourself to go in those directions. So, before YOLO, you should be sure of yourself and in a peaceful state of mind. After all said above, I cannot dissuade you from YOLO-ING, but I can give you a heads-up. Risks are necessary and crucial, but you should at least know what's coming ahead.
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