Have you considered trying something new to mark the new year and new decade? Perhaps you try something new every year? In previous years I’ve talked a good game, but not necessarily followed through with action. I’ve thought about, and even said, I’m going to do some new things and then because I haven’t booked them and haven’t made any commitment, a few months down the road I’ve forgotten about them and what I once said I would do has not actually happened.
This year it’s different for me. I don’t want to be that person anymore. The one who doesn’t walk their talk. Therefore, if I say I’m going to do it – I’m actually following through and getting it done. No excuses.
The fact that I’m just back from a weekend skiing for the very first time is proof of this new me. I said I was going to do it when my friend invited me last year and then I booked it. No waiting, no hesitating, just booked it so I was committed. And I’m so glad I did too! It was an awesome weekend.
Learning something new can be uncomfortable. It’s definitely easier not to do it. But easy and comfortable are totally overrated. The saying that goes “the magic lies outside of your comfort zone” is true, in my opinion. And even if your experience differs from mine, you quickly become comfortable with new things so you’re rarely uncomfortable for long.
When was the last time you did try something new? Is it difficult to think of when it was? Was it that long ago? Perhaps you’re not bothered and you’re happy as you are? I can hear my Mum’s voice in my head saying something like, “but Matt, some people are content and happy as they are, they may not want to try new things!” Which I’m sure is true for some people, but I wish it wasn’t.
Life is short. We all know this. We can all think of someone who’s left us far too early, before they should have. Which is why we should experience as much as we can, while we can. Of course it’s important to be happy and content, but the joy that everyone can have by trying new experiences is so much better than doing the same thing, over and over and over. And even if it turns out you don’t like whatever it is you try, you’ve still learnt something, you’re still in a better place because of it. You’re more self-aware and I bet you feel great for just giving it a go.
The feel-good factor and sense of satisfaction, that comes from just doing what one says one will do is huge. That alone is reason to do it.
I bet you can think of at least 3 things that you’ve wondered about trying in the past, but never actually got ‘round to. Well, let my positivity from my recent skiing weekend be the trigger for you to make the decision to act now. You generally only ever regret the things you don’t do, not the things you do. There’s so much fun to be had in this life, it’s time to push on and try more stuff!
If you’ve had any similar experiences recently from trying something new yourself, I’d love to hear about it. Let me know and share it with others so they too can be inspired to take action. We all need a bit of encouragement now and then.
