“I didn’t know that I would like it or that it was good for me until I tried it.’ Have we not all experienced this at some stage in our lives? It may be as simple as a productivity hack, such as scheduling your week, substituting milk for plant-based options, or starting yoga instead of following your weights routine.
Naturally, we gravitate to what comes easy, feels good, or makes us comfortable. Inevitably, the reason we feel good and are contented is that it is what is familiar and comes easy with ongoing repetition. Limiting options may be detrimental since we will not know the benefits unless we permit ourselves to try. It is not a breakup from your everyday life to try something unconventional. You will still be like yourself tomorrow.
Being open to new experiences, even variations and alternatives, increases our propensity to be attentive and curious, which leads to increased creativity. Through experimentation, we may even discover options that create lasting benefits – the scheduling hack increased your outputs and better outcomes, no dairy eliminated chronic back pain, and yoga helped improve your form and, ultimately, strength with lifting.
Even reading this, there will be individuals who will refute the option to be open. They will say why? ‘I am happy doing what I do. I feel good doing what I do and like who I am.’ What if? If you try other options, you may discover something that makes you feel better. If this does not provide any positive benefits for you, you have affirmed what you already do or think and can gain comfort because you were bold enough to try.
A question to ask yourself regularly is, ‘what have I permitted myself to do or think differently?’ It may be as simple as embracing the cold and looking forward to hikes while embracing the concept of layering, being open to country music when all you listen to is 80s rock, or even reading an article or work that is contrary to your inherent beliefs.
Openness to experiencing crazy new things may just be the stimulus you need for further inspiration. So let go of your bias and give it a try. There is no value in having an opinion when you don’t have first-hand knowledge of those perspectives.
