When is the last time you did something for the first time? September is the perfect month to get out of your head and into your life. We are creatures of habit and love the familiarity of our day-to-day schedule. While there is nothing wrong in structure, when we do the same thing every day, and especially when we forget to bring a sense of gratitude to our life, we become numb to the extraordinary that can be found in the seemingly ordinary moments of our life.
How would your day change if you removed all assumptions, expectations and preconceptions? What would your life look like if you saw it through a beginners mind? A beginners mind is a wonderful state to create and cultivate. It gives us the opportunity to wipe our slate clean from our conditioned way of being (if only for a moment) and creates an opportunity for us to view the world, and our own life through fresh eyes. A beginners mind sees the world through the lens of possibility and brings with it a sense of excitement and enthusiasm.
~ Alan Alda
As we settle into the fall months, why not use this time to rediscover the magnificence of your life by shaking it up ever so slightly. When we step out of the familiar we open the door for awe and wonder to enter. Both of these are powerful strengths to cultivate as they allow us to expand our vision, our passion and our potential.
The idea is to move out of your comfort zone just enough that it doesn’t cause anxiety yet it challenges you to rekindle your sense of curiosity. This space is also known as flow state. Flow is active recovery for your brain. It brings you into the present and allows you to step into the mind of a beginner.
When we are in flow we become lost in the moment and as we focus on the task at hand the stress and worries of our life slip away. Flow is good for your health, your mind and your life.
This month I invite you to take the road less traveled and open your eyes to the incredible opportunities that wait for you in the unexplored pockets of your life. Create a list of new to do’s and then once a week for the next month step out of the familiar and get lost in the possibility of new adventures.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Try a new restaurant and try a new type of cuisine.
- Find a new hike or trail to explore.
- Visit a new neighborhood and go to a museum.
- Go to your local library and take out a book that you would not normally read.
- Read the book that you picked up from the library.
- Do one act of service for someone you do not know.
- Try a dance class, even better try it with your partner.
- Take a cooking class.
- Learn a new language.
- Create a new outlet for your artistic talents, perhaps painting, journaling, pottery making or knitting.
- Watch a sunrise and a sunset on the same day.
- Pull out your dusty bike and ride outside again.
- Change your route to work.
So, this month do something for the first time. Move out of your comfort zone, become a beginner again and find the magic called your life.
Petra Kolber is the author of the soon to be released book, The Perfection Detox: Tame Your Inner Critic, Live Bravely and Unleash Your Joy. Visit: perfectiondetox.com to pre-order and claim your thank you bonus materials.