How did yesterday go? Did you find something you dislike about yourself and decide to embrace rather than hate? Do you feel better now that you made that choice?
I kind of do. I mean, I want to be okay with that part of myself but I don’t that I’ll ever fully accept it. I do, however, feel better that I’ve decided to try to be happy with it.
I’m not sure if that makes any sense.
But I think you understand. 
Given the intensity of yesterday’s challenge, today we’re going to do something a little easier. A little more fun. A little more adventurous. What are we doing? Today, we’re focusing on trying something new. It can be a new food, a new system of doing chores, a new hairstyle, a new movie, a new book, a new band. Anything that is new to you, and might be a little out of the ordinary, will work.
How will this make you happier? Well, it’ll break you from your comfort zone, which is a great way to build self-confidence. Trying something new may expose you to a whole new way of thinking. It might make you more productive. It might introduce you to some new friends. Any of these, individually or combined, can have a significant impact on how happy you feel on a given day.
For instance, when I first tried Zumba last year, it was a huge step for me. I am horribly uncoordinated, I’m not particularly outgoing, and I’m not exactly what you call a “joiner”. I tend to do things by myself. Group activities freak me out. But I was getting bored with cardio machine and weights and if I was going to keep my depression at bay sans pills, I had to try something new. So, I bit the bullet and went to a class.
Little did I know how much it would change me. And how much happier I am now as a result. In fact, if you were at FinCon13, you might have noticed me wearing what looked like a breast cancer awareness bracelet with a weird looking black symbol on it. That’s my Zumba bracelet, given to me by one of my instructors/friends as a sort of security bracelet and reminder that I can do more than I think (and keeping with me all those I know fighting their cancer battles right now).
It worked, too.
But the moral of the story is that you don’t know the life changing effects trying something new can have. That’s not to say that finding a more efficient way to clean your bathroom will change your life but it might make it easier and free up more time for other, more interest stuff to try.
As for me, my new thing for today is reading the book The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. I’m not much into new-age type philosophy but my cousin, whom I respect and admire a great deal and is an NLP provider/hypnotherapist/life coach, recommended it. I trust him and his opinions so I’m giving it a shot (and based on the reviews and summaries I’ve read, it does sound like a philosophy I can get behind).
I broke my mold once before and it worked wonders. I’m hoping this does the same.
What’s your something new? Anything you’ve been wanting to try and haven’t?
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[…] ← 31 Steps for Feeling Happier, Step 26: Try something new […]
Thanks for the shout-out. So glad you’re reading The Four Agreements. I look forward to reading your review of it and/or discussing it with you. <3
Dave Berman, C.Ht. recently posted…Negativity Bias or Clarity?
I tend to work a lot at home. Its time I ventured out more…maybe try work at the Library or a cafe or even a shared office or something and see how that would do for my happiness index and productivity.
That and cooking more often at home!
Simon @ Modest Money recently posted…Scottrade Review – Exclusive Review of Scottrade Investment Brokerage
It’s nice to see someone else talking about this. It’s refreshing actually. I’m a firm believer in regularly getting out of my comfort zone for a variety of reasons, most of which you mentioned. Personal growth is really the foundation of everything, such as career qualifications, relationships, happiness, confidence etc. Thanks!