A risk is worth it when the upside changes your life and the downside only bruises your ego.

Risks get much easier to judge once you ask what you would actually lose, specifically, in the bad version. Quite often the honest answer is some pride and a story you would rather not tell. That is a small price for a shot at something that changes your options for years. The ones to avoid are where the downside reaches money you need, your body, or somebody who did not choose it.

Before the next one, write the worst case in a single sentence. If it is only embarrassment, go. If it includes something you cannot replace, change the plan.