There are a couple of goals that appear on most New Year’s resolutions and bucket lists. Trying something new is definitely one of them.
It’s a catchy phrase – it promises new adventures, new challenges, new experiences. And most people would like to think of themselves as someone who constantly seeks out new things. No wonder, “I’m looking for new challenges” is such a popular audition/job interview/social media bio opening.
After all, isn’t this what life is really about? Constantly trying new things?
So we boast about looking for challenges and write smart quotes about being brave and pushing our boundaries as captions to our #latteart on Instagram. But in reality, I guess most of us pass on those new opportunities more often than not.
We’re often creatures of habits. We like the familiar, we like comfort, we fear the unknown. We fear we might fail. We hold on to what we know. I’m definitely guilty of this.
And I so wish I could somehow change this. I want to be braver. I want to be that person who’s genuinely excited about new things.
Someone who’s not afraid, or even if she is, she’s able to overcome her anxiety. Someone who’s constantly pushing her boundaries.
I’ve been trying to be very intentional about becoming more open to trying new things in the last few years – both in my professional and personal life.
What would you do if you weren’t afraid is a motto I’ve been using for some time to try to push myself. Just start is another one – not waiting for tomorrow, for next Monday, next year.
These mottos may seem like superficial sayings, but if you use them intentionally (meaning you actually follow up with action and not just repeat them in your head), I really think they can work.
I’ve also been pushing myself to be more adventurous in my personal life – I have a bucket list I frequently use to organize fun programs, I seek out new experiences to try in the weekend.
A new thing I’ve started this year is to actually keep track of all the new things I’ve tried. I dedicate a separate page in my journal, where I write down everything I do for the first time that month. Whether it’s a new place I’ve tried, a new work milestone I’ve reached, or something else, I collect them just to remind myself of how much I’m capable of achieving. I even record things that may seem simple or mundane to others – if it was new to me, it counts.
It’s a very positive and uplifting little habit – it makes me proud and gives me the confidence to continue trying.
Because you don’t magically transform yourself overnight. All changes are a series of small steps. So start small, start slow if you want. Learn to cook a new dish. Try a new place. Do a new exercise. Enroll in a new class. Try a different approach. Send the pitch you’ve never dared to. Talk to someone new.
And don’t to forget to write it down – and be proud of it.
