Risk-taking Hobbies

Introduction

Hobbies and Risk-taking

While often discouraged and avoided, taking risks can be enjoyable, beneficial, and even required. Hobbies can allow us to enjoy the benefits of risk-taking, while mostly avoiding its downsides.

Risk-taking Can Be Beneficial but Is Mostly Discouraged

Risk-taking can be enjoyable, beneficial, or even required:

three fundamentally different motives of risk-taking: as an end in itself, as a means to an end and as a response to vulnerability.
The meaning of risk-taking – key concepts and dimensions | Taylor & Francis

For some, risk-taking supports a stronger sense of self:

In edgework [voluntary risk-taking] the focus is on the exploration of one’s limits (the edge) and to confirm one’s skills and abilities which provide ‘edgeworkers’ with heightened feelings of autonomy, self-worth, meaning and confidence.
[…] risk-taking is part of developing and protecting a valued identity.
[…] This is how people make sense of the world and position themselves in it.
The meaning of risk-taking – key concepts and dimensions | Taylor & Francis

But even for those of us who are not daredevils, risk-taking is a part of everyday life and can be essential for decision-making, and beneficial, as it supports growth and learning.

[…] science shows that taking risks helps people, at any age, to learn.
Research in Cognitive Psychology Explains Benefits of Risk-Taking | Carnegie Mellon Today

Even though risk-taking can be essential and beneficial, we are usually discouraged from taking risks and do not get many opportunities to do so voluntarily.
There are even policies and strategies to reduce people’s risk-taking. We are encouraged to play it safe.
Many people are reluctant to take risks in their personal and professional lives, as they fear failure, rejection, or criticism.

Hobbies Can Present an Opportunity for Contained, Knowledgeable Risk-taking

Hobbies can allow us to take risks in a contained, safe environment.
On one hand, we are passionate and care deeply about our hobbies, so any risk-taking within it feels real and meaningful.
On the other hand, hobbies are activities we do for our own sake and enjoyment, without an external goal. Therefore, the consequence of risk-taking is mostly contained and limited.
Hobbies allow us to enjoy the upsides of risk-taking, while mostly avoiding the downsides of it.
Hobbies can also allow us to take knowledgeable, reasonable, risks:

Lacking knowledge is certainly a problem in a large number of risk-taking activities.
Research in Cognitive Psychology Explains Benefits of Risk-Taking | Carnegie Mellon Today

Hobbies can also help us build a stronger sense of self, making it easier to take beneficial risks, avoid disadvantageous risks, and discern between the two.