Trying something new can be intimidating, but the reward often outweighs the fear in the long run. Here are some great tips to get started on your journey into the new.
We’ve all been there…stuck in a rut, feeling like there isn’t one thing you’re good at. Actually, more like there isn’t one thing you’re REALLY good at. Just a few things you’re okay with or don’t mind doing. This feeling can lead to us feeling dissatisfied with our performance, but it doesn’t have to be this way! The beauty of the world we live in is that if you’re not amazing at something you have two options: work hard at it until you’re a master, or try something new!
Letting Go Of Your Fear
Look, I understand it’s a lot easier said than done but hear me out. The way to try something new is to throw fear and shame to the wind. No one ever got anywhere being scared or ashamed of themselves now did they. If you’re trying something completely new, cut yourself some slack! How are you going to be an expert at something you’ve never done before? Granted, there is such a thing as natural talent and the whole left brain/right brain thing. Which means some people may be better at this while you’re better at that; but don’t let that stop you! If you want to try something new, the power is in your hands to do so.
A Small Step Still Moves You Forward
A great tip when trying something new is starting at a smaller scale. Want to be an award-winning director? That’s great, but let’s scale that back a bit. A first step could be applying to a film school, or getting an entry level job at a production company, or creating some not-so-award-winning films and posting them to YouTube for creative feedback. When you start to break it down, trying something new doesn’t have to be grand right away, it can be manipulated into bite size chunks for you to work with.
Look at it like this. Say you get some really negative comments on your latest film posted to YouTube (which, by the way, your grandma thought was “amazing and visionary”). Do you quit now? Is this the sign that you should have never tried something new to begin with? Do you go back to being an unhappy store clerk at a dead-end job? NO! You persevere! The beauty of trying something new is that you get to learn along the way. Take the criticism that ‘cool_guy98’ left so kindly in your comments section, and use it to better hone your skills.
The Magic Of Perseverance
Without perseverance a lot of the most successful people you know wouldn’t be where they are today. Look at J.K Rowling for example, she was turned down by 12 publishers before finding the right company to bring Harry Potter to life. 12! Not only is that 12 publishers kicking themselves for making the wrong decision, but that also 12 opportunities for J.K to give up. But, she didn’t. Now we get to enjoy reading about some kids learning magic and watching them grow up on screen. See where I’m going with this? When trying something new there will be moments of doubt and hardship, but as a favourite saying of mine goes “Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, then it is not the end”.
There Is No Failure, Only Lessons
That being said, if whatever new thing you’re trying is going terribly, I’m talking bankruptcy, losing friends, losing passion, and hating what you’re doing, then… psst guess what, you can try something ELSE new! If you have hit this point, I know it may be hard to let go, but threw are two important things to remember. 1) if it’s not making you happy then it’s probably for the best to move on and, 2) you’re not a failure for doing so. It takes great courage and grit to acknowledge that you tried something new and unfortunately it didn’t work out. So again, the cycle of trying something new has once again begun!
When trying new things, it can be really fun to do a bunch at once. This can be an amazing way to get out of a rut or energize yourself. However, one thing to watch out for is that you’re not spreading yourself too thin. If you want to be successful or make a career out of something new, it is important to focus your time and energy towards it in a meaningful way. If you’re attempting too many new things it will be much harder to sky rocket to success.
Add Some Method To The Madness
Trying too many new things at once can also feel overwhelming, thus it may just seem easier to stay the same. I myself am guilty of this! I like what I like so I tend to lean towards ordering the same thing each time I visit particular restaurants, wearing the same outfits I know look good on me, even doing the same workouts at the gym to avoid looking like it’s my first time there. The point of my life story, that you didn’t ask to hear, is that trying new things can be daunting and that is okay!
My suggestion is to try something new in one aspect of your life while keeping some things the same. I could try a different menu item, but keep my outfits and gym routine the same; that doesn’t mean I’m not trying enough new things. Instead, it means I am being realistic in my approach. We are creatures of habit afterall and the fact you too like what you like is 100% a-okay.
What I will leave you with is this – take a look at your life and ask yourself where you would like to make changes and then… get this… try something new and make those changes happen!