Trying New Things is the Best Gift You Can Give Yourself.
Is there anything you see other people doing and think, “This is nice,” but you just never get around to trying it yourself? Millions of chefs, Olympian swimmers, musicians, and so on are out there, but since they never put in any effort to try, they will never be seen or heard by the public. Let’s discuss the benefits of trying new things, the reasons you should attempt them, the reasons why individuals resist trying new things, and how to overcome obstacles in the way of trying new things.
Growing up, we were all made to view failure as something negative that should be avoided at all costs. As a result, many people are reluctant to take on projects and tasks they are unsure of since they don’t want to be seen as failures if they try and do not perform well.
Preconceived beliefs are another barrier to exploring new things. For example, those who live in areas where it is believed that males do not cook will not have any guys cooking at all; if they did attempt it, you would find some who would enjoy it and even want to go on to become chefs.
When an activity is not a person’s main interest, they are less likely to try it. Many women lack a strong interest in trucks, making it unlikely that they would be inspired to learn how to drive them if given the option.
When some friends invited me to go swimming, I wasn’t thrilled because I didn’t know how. However, after being nudged for a while, I eventually agreed and enjoyed it so much that they almost had to hire a crane to get me out of the pool.
J.K. Rowling initially hesitated to write children’s books, but after rejections from many publishers, she embraced the challenge and produced the wildly popular “Harry Potter” series.
To try new things with confidence, we must overcome fear and reluctance and adopt a growth mindset. To achieve this, we need to recognise specific fears and reservations that we have. But also know that fear is a natural reaction to the unknown. However, as the term suggests,
FALSE. EVIDENCE. APPEARING. REAL
Fear is never real.
Another thing we can do is break down this new activity into smaller, more achievable tasks and focus on conquering it one step at a time.
By setting realistic expectations and acknowledging that your initial attempts may not be perfect, you don’t feel bad if you don’t do so well when you begin.
Find a friend or mentor to support or guide you in your endeavour, and celebrate the little progress you make along the way. It takes courage to face fears, so celebrate each step you take.
Adopt a growth mentality, which will allow you to see problems as chances for learning and development. Recognise that skills can be developed with hard work and patience.
To overcome fear and resistance, keep in mind that each person’s journey is unique, and certain strategies will work better for them depending on their situation.
Back in university, a classmate, Razak, made the daring decision to start a computer and photocopying business, which would not be simple considering he was also a student. However, his determination and willingness to step outside of his comfort zone eventually paid off. When we finished and were applying for jobs, he was looking for new employees. He created his business by stepping outside of his comfort zone and persevering, and he now owns multiple businesses.
There may be a certain activity that you have been silently interested in; go ahead and try it. That idea you think you may not like could turn out to be a pleasant surprise.
I’ll like to remind you that our tastes and inclinations do change, which might lead us to discover new joys in unexpected places. Embracing the uncertain and being open to the possibility that what we once resisted might just be the missing piece to our happiness puzzle.
As I wrap up, keep in mind that life’s most beautiful experiences often hide behind curtains of the unknown. Trying something new is like unwrapping a gift; you never know what’s inside until you take the first step. Many people, despite their initial reservations, have found interests, joy, and personal growth in unexpected places.
Now, it’s your turn. What haven’t you tried yet? What lies beyond your hesitation? Share your thoughts and stories with me; I’ll love to read them.
You can go ahead and also read some of my other posts.
