Episode #157 Try Something New

Five Problems

• A failure to engage in recreational activities is detrimental not only to the personal dimension of life but to the relational dimension as well.
• Trying something new is, unfortunately, often restricted to childhood.
• We tend to avoid new experiences due to a fear of failure.
• As human beings, we are conditioned to pursue order over originality.
• We will never stumble our way into an extraordinary life.

Five Principles

• Participating in new hobbies is an effective way to meet new people and cultivate new friendships.
• Although it is easier to learn new skills at a young age, we can never be too old to try something for the very first time.
• Trying something new may involve some pain, but it is a worthwhile pain that we will not soon regret.
• Every friend we have ever had was once a stranger.
• Learning new things on a regular basis improves our mental sharpness, memory capacity, and perhaps even our physical longevity.

Three Practices

• Surround yourself with people who will encourage you to try new things rather than people who make you feel judged or embarrassed.
• Make a new recipe every week, visit a new restaurant every month, and try a new food every year.
• Consider how to inject some fun and variety into even the mundane and monotonous parts of your job.