Throughout the day, you can keep doing the same ol’ thing or you can try something new. New is hard. Those nagging questions sing-song along in your head: Will I just waste my time? Will I try and fail? Will I be led down a dubious—or even dangerous—path?
Take trying out a new trail as an example. The map may be unreliable, and your walk could be cut short when the promised connection turns out to be nothing more than a fictitious line on paper. Or the trail might meander through an industrial area that starts to feel a little spooky—the grind of machinery and the sudden hiss of released steam painting a scene of foul play and stashed bodies.
Trying small segments at a time can be one way of tricking ourselves into pressing on instead of holding back. Picking moments when the risk of a setback doesn’t feel quite so dear helps too. And engaging a reliable partner (one with fur and fangs is especially nice) works wonders.
But in the end, it’s often the unexpected joy of experiencing something new that pulls us forward.
Home Economics 