Should you accept a new job in a new city? How much should you spend on your house? What if you ask someone out on a date and you get rejected?

Have you ever thought about how you make choices? If you’re like most people, you likely don’t invest much time into thinking about the thoughts and feelings behind your decisions. And that could have serious consequences.

We face many risks in our lives—financial, physical, emotional, social, and business risks. But, people often avoid taking the risks that could help them reach their full potential because they’re afraid.

Perhaps the last risk you took had a bad outcome. Or maybe, no one ever taught you how to calculate risk so you think it’s just too hard to make choices.

Whether you tend to take too big of risks or you constantly play it safe, you’re not alone. It’s a common problem that holds many people back in life.

Here are 9 signs you fear taking calculated risks:

1. You struggle to make important decisions in your life.
2. You spend a lot of time daydreaming about what you’d like to do but you struggle to take action.
3. You make impulsive decisions because thinking about your options is just too anxiety provoking.
4. You think you could be doing more adventurous and exciting things in life but fear holds you back.
5. When you think about taking a risk, you usually only imagine worst-case scenarios and choose not to take the chances.
6. You sometimes let other people make decisions for you so you don’t have to make them.
7. You avoid risks in at least some areas of your life—social, financial, career, or physical—because you are afraid.
8. You base decisions on your level of fear. If you’re a little afraid, you might do it. But, if you feel really afraid, you decide it’s unwise to proceed.
9. You think outcomes are largely dependent on luck.

Living your best life isn’t about taking the biggest and boldest risks. It’s about taking the right risks. And the only way you can determine which risks you should take is by learning how to calculate risk better.

Emotion and irrational thinking often prevail over logic. And sometimes, we just don’t spend enough time examining risks before we act.

The fear of taking calculated risks will rob you of mental strength—if you let it. If you’re struggling to recognize which risks to take or you let fear stand in your way, join me for a Facebook Live chat on Thursday 4/20 at Noon ET.

I’ll be talking about chapter 6 of my book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do – They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks.

I’ll share:

• The ways fearing calculated risks will hold you back.
• What research says about the irrational shortcuts most people use to make major life decisions.
• How to balance emotions with logic.
• How to minimize risk and maximize your success.
• How taking calculated risks will increase your mental strength.

This is the sixth episode of my 13 week Facebook Live audio series based on my international bestselling book, 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do. To tune in, just go to my Facebook page at noon ET (9AM PT) on Thursday 4/20. If you can’t join the conversation, you can always catch the replay later.