Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: Reasons We Should Try New Things
What is the good life? Philosophers have theorized, poets have lamented, religions have preached, teachers have taught, parents wonder and maybe the smallest of children are busy finding the answers…
I feel my most full, flowing, elevated when I am living on the edge of discovery, learning, and engaged. As a child, especially a young child, this is exactly what growth and development are: you learn to roll over, you learn to crawl, to walk, to talk… you are constantly interacting and growing in relation to your physical world and the stimuli you encounter. Development has momentum and the child constantly reaches their threshold of what is possible and must push through to the next stage.
Have you ever watched a child who is learning to stand up? First, they pull themselves up holding on to a shelf or some furniture, then they attempt to let go and balance. They fall hundreds of times before learning a new skill. They are constantly challenged. They are persistently pushing the boundaries of what they can do. There is continual learning and interaction with the world unfolding.
Later on, there is a point in which we start deciding if we want to take a chance and go after the newest challenge. Will we go a little farther away, try something new, or take a risk? We adults often become settled, risk-averse, and willing to live with the status quo. Have you noticed that when you try something new, you feel a rush inside your body? That is dopamine! You get excited. You see the world getting a little bigger, just because you have tried something new. (Trying something new can be something physical like a dance class, running, traveling, etc.. and can be a new way of thinking, being conscious of how you eat, how you treat yourself and the world). The newness can emerge in many different ways.
Some other great reasons to try new things are:
-Adding a new experience to your memory bank has a positive influence on your life. Each time you take a leap of faith, you're training your brain to remember the positive rewards associated with a new and exciting experience. The adrenaline rush, the endorphins, and the sense of pride; they're all stored in your brain (building new pathways).
Time Magazine reported in speaking with psychologist Rich Walker: “People who engage in a variety of experiences are more likely to retain positive emotions and minimize negative ones than people who have fewer experiences.”
-Learning something new causes your brain to build connections between neurons, replacing some of those you lose over time. “According to the Alzheimer’s Association, research shows that keeping your brain active increases its vitality. Doing new things in new ways appears to help retain brain cells and connections. It may even produce new brain cells. In essence, breaking out of your routine can help keep your brain stay healthy." - Healthline
Essentially, pushing yourself and challenging your brain is a well-known way to activate processes that help maintain individual brain cells and stimulate communication among them.
-When you try something new, even when you fail you feel a sense of pride for having tried. This can do wonders for your courage and confidence; and the more 'normalized' failing at something new becomes, the less fear and discouragement you'll feel the next time you try something out.
When getting outside of your comfort zone and succeeding, you experience an overwhelming feeling of confidence, proving your negative and limiting thoughts wrong. You then have the confidence to try the next challenge that comes along.
-Trying new things is a great way to learn about yourself and where your true limitations lie. It is pretty exciting to consider that when you try something new it could be a hidden talent you never imagined. We often have tightly held stories about ourselves that are created early in life that we don’t allow to evolve. By trying new things we open ourselves up to new self-concepts.
This is how people grow and change for the better. Trying something new is more often than not the catalyst for personal growth. It teaches us about ourselves, pushes our boundaries, humbles us, and empowers us, all at once!
I would argue that we can all add a little more play, newness, fun for the sake of fun, boundary-pushing, challenge, and vulnerability to our lives. Our relationships will benefit too if we make an effort to do something novel with our partner at least once a week. Yes: once a week. It doesn’t mean we need to go on a road trip through Europe but try something new together. Make a list of things you each want to do and see how many you both agree to. Continuously add to the list. Have big things that take planning and little things that you can be spontaneous with. And choose one a week to do together.
Esther Perel (one of my gurus) says “Play is the infinite testing ground for creativity. When kids play, they're exploring the world. They're looking at what works and what doesn't without having to be practical. It involves physical, cognitive, and emotional development, but it is intimately and intricately connected with creativity, daring, boldness, and risk-taking. The importance of play doesn’t end when childhood ends. Sure, we can engage in play as adults because it’s healthy, because it releases endorphins, and so on. But that’s kind of like saying that one should have sex because it burns calories. Just like sex, playing as adults is about pleasure, connection, creativity, fantasy—all the juicy parts of life we savor.”
What is your idea about the elevated life? Mine involves living to the fullest, taking chances, being vulnerable, facing fears, saying yes to challenges and the unknown, being flexible and willing to go for something spontaneous, and trying to find the humor in all of it.
Are you interested in working on your personal development? Are you looking for a life coach or a life consultant? Are you feeling stagnant? Do you want to jumpstart change?
My transformational approach is a process where awareness, alignment, and action work together as catalysts to create momentum for change.
*Awareness is knowing what you genuinely want and need.
*Alignment is the symmetry between our values and our actions. It means our inner and outer worlds match.
*Action is when you are conscious that what you say, do and think are in harmony with your values.
Together we build an understanding of what you want to accomplish, and delve deeply into building awareness around any thoughts and assumptions that you may already have. To truly transform your life, I will empower you to rethink what’s possible for you.
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Learn more about my approach to life consulting and relationship coaching here or get in touch for your free 30-minute consultation here! Don’t forget to follow along @LilyManne on social for more regular updates!
