When is the Last Time … You Did Something for the First Time?
As a kid, we had new experiences all the time. Whether it was the first day of kindergarten, or the first bike ride without training wheels, or the first date, we were surrounded by firsts in our lives. The thing is, doing something new was pretty ordinary back then, and failure was always an option! It was the price we paid for knowledge, experimentation, and growth. All things considered, it was a pretty fair price. Recognized by another name, we were surrounded by *Change*, and as kids, we didn’t know to fear it. Furthermore, the adults around us seemed excited for us as we passed through these rites of passage, and it didn’t seem like we had a choice but to go along.
As we age, we allow ourselves to fall into habits and routines. We tell ourselves that we know what we like, and that’s how we’re going to live our lives. On one hand, that’s great! It’s GOOD to discover yourself, and to live the life that makes you happy. On the other hand, it’s in our nature to strive for a better life, and better circumstances. Change happens, and it helps us grow, regardless of how uncomfortable the change is. Once we stop growing, we start dying. We watch as the world changes around us, but we refuse to change with it, and the world moves on without us.
So how about now? Do you surround yourself with new experiences? Do you roll with the changes in your life, or do you fight to go back to more comfortable circumstances? Do you allow yourself the opportunity to fail? What risk have you taken this week, and how far are you willing to follow it? Is it really that big of a risk anyway?
For me, I started a blog this week. Sounds pretty safe, huh? Yet it took me over a year of thinking about it to get started and put the proverbial pen to paper. So far so good – nobody’s laughed me to oblivion yet, and it certainly was less stressful than The Apprentice audition I did a while back – even without The Donald present! Maybe next week I’ll start my own website… it’s all about baby steps and trying something new.
Action Challenge: Start small and try something new this week. Maybe it’s a new route to work, maybe it’s a different sandwich at a different deli for lunch. Perhaps even it’s buying the Sunday paper to look for a new job or a new house. Pick something achievable at first, so that you can build your confidence for the next, scarier new thing!
Cheers and all my best to you!
~Brooxi
“If we could sell our experiences for what they cost us, we'd all be millionaires.”
- Abigail Van Buren (“Dear Abby”)
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