Trying Something New

(When was the last time you did something for the first time?)

That’s a great question—and one that responds to the age-old adage; the more I learn, the more I find I don’t know. So I am always learning!

The truth is, most of us are afraid to try something new for fear of failing. Our fear of the unknown and that of not being able to succeed is what really holds us back. We don’t want to look incompetent or silly in the eyes of our spouses, colleagues, friends, or even children. We pass on teaching those swimming lessons. We take a rain check on karaoke night with the team. We use a number of reasons to justify our actions: too busy, no babysitter, tight budget, a looming deadline. But we need to recognize these excuses as being just that—excuses. The fact of the matter is, doing something different is not always time consuming—it’s not always expensive, difficult, or even challenging. Doing something new may be a very simple task—it is just new. And doing something new can be the first step toward an enriching lifetime experience and can be fun. The best part is, there is absolutely nothing stopping you from doing it.

Vary your daily routine

Trying something you have never tried before opens up a whole new world of learning possibilities and opportunities. Doing the same thing each day—meeting the same people, working in the same office, eating at the same deli, and practicing the same sports and hobbies—can get boring and lacks challenge after a while. If you feel like you are stuck in a rut and need to make a change, then the first thing you need to do is to try something new. Seek out fresh opportunities and ideas and don’t be afraid to tackle projects that are thrown your way—including the new ones.

Seize the day

We need to make a conscious decision to step outside our comfort zone that we hide in and shake things up a little. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It takes one little step outside your zone to make you realize the world is full of adventures and opportunities waiting to be seized.

Maybe you are trying harrisa (an extremely spicy chili paste) for the first time—this will give you the chance to learn about a Moroccan way of eating. Perhaps you are buying a beautiful plant whose name you don’t know. There you go—horticulture may just be the long-awaited hobby you’re looking for! Hesitant to sign up for an online course on a topic you don’t know much about? Go for it! Not only will you gain knowledge on this topic, but you’ll also find out how distance education works. You may also discover something about yourself—you’re not as intimidated, introverted, or physically incapable as you thought you were.

Aim to try something different each day. It doesn’t have to be a big challenge—it could be anything that piques your curiosity. And don’t be afraid to look outside your current interests for inspiration. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you find.

Start small and keep moving

Still hesitant to step into the unknown? Then how about making a small change in the current way you handle something? Easy and manageable—and doing so lets you see things in a whole different light and nudges you toward your first steps into something bigger.

So give it a go and try something new today. Who knows what exciting possibilities are waiting for you around the corner!