Every decision that we make is filtered through our tolerance for risk. Some have a high tolerance for risk, while others are risk averse. This comes from our personality, but also a lot is dependent on our upbringing and whether we have faced risk in the past. Some of us were raised in an environment that supported and even celebrated risk taking, while others were rewarded for making the safe choice. One thing is certain, the payoff for the activity comes in to play when we are deciding whether or not to take a risk. Issues that are representative of closely held values make it easier to take risks.