Try Something New
Because Variety IS the Spice of Life
It was one of my Dad’s favorite sayings. As a small child, I refused to try green vegetables (corn was my ONLY vegetable), and later on, I balked at my Mom’s fashion suggestions.
“But, honey, variety is the spice of life,” he’d say with a big smile.
Over time I learned to eat green veggies and, on a rare occasion, would agree with Mom regarding clothing styles. But, it took many more years to understand how important variety is, especially regarding creativity.
It’s too easy to get comfortable with what we already know.
Research shows that exposing ourselves to new and diverse situations improves creativity. Stepping outside our ‘familiar’ zones forces us to embrace new ideas. Multicultural experiences, unexpected adversity, and challenges to expectations also influence creativity.1
Other ways to spark our imaginations are:
Art/Museums
Music/Concerts
Reading
Taking a class
Exploring a new hobby
Technology
Journaling
It’s important to try something different than what we’re used to. I've always loved true-crime documentaries and novels. However, I've expanded my repertoire by watching and reading different shows and books and am enjoying the new genres.
During my codependent marriage, I never ventured outside my self-imposed walls. It didn’t occur to me to attend a concert or play. My time was consumed with work and a growing family; we didn’t have extra time or money. My husband had no interest if the activity didn’t involve alcohol.
Despite being unhappy with my circumstances, I was reluctant to change what was familiar. I knew how to navigate ‘the known’ even if it meant being miserable. Attempting something new was risky; what if I failed like so many times before?
Eventually, I mustered the courage to keep my promise to myself. I’d get the education that would have given me options (if only I’d followed through.) The first of several major defeats, I dropped out during the first year, influenced by my self-destructive choices.
Once I went back to school, the isolation melted away. Experiencing a wide variety of adventures brought joy and connections with new people. It ignited the creativity to think differently that had been missing for so long.
That began my metamorphosis into a stronger, more resilient person.
After reading the post by
over at where he suggests writing ‘in seasons,’ I decided to try it. Variety, right?He also offered a new take on the adage “Write what you know” (courtesy of
). She advises, “Write what you want to learn.” This fits exactly with the intent of my newsletter: to analyze the trauma I experienced through study and then share personal experiences.Each season will last two months. I’ll write one post weekly, focusing on different aspects of one topic and how those particular themes impacted my life. Posts will be published on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
I'll continue writing about optimism and the power of positive thinking for the remainder of March and April. We sure need more of it in these chaotic times!
The rest of the year looks like this: May/June, July/August, September/October, November/December. Topics are yet to be determined, although I’m leaning towards ‘Hope’ for Oct/Nov (we do have what could be a life-altering presidential election on 11/5/24.)
I’ll schedule a short break between seasons for creative rest (and in case I suddenly have to move to Canada!) 🤞🏼
I wrote about optimism bias last week. If you want to learn more, I’ve included some resources below. ⬇️
Thanks for reading Life Matters…I hope to see you next week!
YOUR THOUGHTS - Have you tweaked your newsletter since its inception, which resulted in positive changes? If so, please share:
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
BOOK:
Neuroscientist Tali Sharot demonstrates that optimism may be crucial to human existence. Drawing on cutting-edge science, her book The Optimism Bias provides startling new insight into the workings of the brain and optimism's major role in determining how we live our lives.
If there’s no room on your reading list right now, her 18-minute TED Talk summarizing the research can be found here.
VIDEO:
This brief BBC Reel addressed optimism bias during the Pandemic but gives a concise overview in just under six minutes
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"I’ll schedule a short break between seasons for creative rest (and in case I suddenly have to move to Canada!) 🤞🏼" haha, thinking the same thing, only I'll be heading to a Spanish speaking country somewhere in the world, probably sooner than expected if things continue evolving as they are.
Thanks for sharing and your father has wise advice. ☺️