Change Your Life Affirmation: I am open to experiences of growth.

Too often we mindlessly repeat actions—driving a fixed route to work or the grocery store, drinking a certain type of coffee, or frequenting the same eateries. We make a decision to do something, and our brains shift into autopilot. What would happen if we consciously changed our behavior? Maybe in traveling a new road we find a coffeeshop with even better beverages and service than our old standby. Or in trying a different restaurant, we could discover a new favorite dish. If you want to change your life, then do something new.

Why Do We Do The Same Things?

Because we know they are a safe bet. With so much going on in our lives, it may be easier and less stressful to default to past decisions. We know what to expect—it is in our comfort zone. A new choice causes us to ponder, Will I like it? Fear of disappointment is one of the biggest reasons we make the same decisions. When we know what awaits us, we reduce the chance of being dissatisfied.

But what is wrong with a little disappointment? It can help clarify our wants, and maybe more importantly, what we do not want. Life is full of adjustments, and the more we accept and embrace them, the more we evolve. This makes our brains less stagnant, allowing our thoughts to flow in a new direction and create new neural pathways. Becoming flexible makes us more resilient to handling new experiences in the future. And by not taking risks and getting out of our comfort zone, wonderful opportunities may be missed.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. — Ralph Waldo Emerson, American poet, essayist, philosopher

Change It Up!

Starting, learning, or doing something new can be frightening. Remember the first time you tried to ride a bike, drive a car, or start a new job. Anytime you move into the unknown, anxiety and fear can appear. This is a normal reaction. But we have to do new things and have different experiences to grow. If we don’t, we can become stagnant.

If you want to change your life, try one new thing this week that you usually do not do, such as striking up a conversation with the checker at the grocery store, saying hello to someone walking by, or driving a new route. If change is hard for you, take baby steps. Experiment at your own pace. There is no timeline.

Life is about expanding yourself, exploring fresh experiences, and living new adventures. Never stop learning or experimenting. Otherwise, how will you know how far you can go? Be bold and take a different path. You may be pleasantly surprised where you end up.

Photo by Katt Yukawa on Unsplash