I realize that not everyone loves to start from the beginning. But on the contrary, I absolutely LOVE trying new things! Maybe it’s my inherent curiosity or my low tolerance for sameness and routine or my grandmother’s advice to me as a kid “to always learn something new” but I’m addicted to being a novice. It has taken me from belly dancing to sky diving and from pilates and yoga to zumba and inline skating. I’ll almost try anything at least once. There are others however, who cringe when I invite them to try it for themselves for sameness breeds familiarity and comfort. In contrast, trying something new can bring up unconscious fears like the fear of humiliating one’s self or the fear of not being good at something. So here’s a few tips on how to lay those fears at rest for those of you contemplating starting a new career or just a new hobby.
1) Learn to laugh at yourself! When I tried belly dancing for the first time, I was nervous especially since we had to bare all and expose something I’d rather keep hidden, my belly. All that nervousness transformed into giggles, however, when I stopped taking myself so seriously and had a good laugh at myself in the mirror. It not only helped relieve some of my nervousness and fears, but it also worked my abs and reminded me that no matter what I was doing, the most important thing was that I had a good time doing it!
2) Ask questions. When you’re trying to learn something new, it’s important to ask a lot of questions. It’s a great way to get to know the subject as well as get to know other people.
3) Take advantage of being a beginner. The great thing about being a beginner is that people won’t expect you to be great at it. This means whether you’re starting a new job or learning how to skate, it’s totally okay for you to “mess up.” People will expect you to fall so don’t be so hung up about being perfect. I really think that this is the best time to learn how to make mistakes and learn from them.
4) See life through the eyes of a child. Remember the kind of awe you used to feel when you tried something new? Well you can experience it again as an adult. While you’re experiencing that new hobby, try to let yourself go and remember what it was like when you were an extremely curious kid exploring the world.
5) Don’t be so hard on yourself. This means don’t compare yourself with others. I’ve noticed how newbies react when they join a new exercise class for the first time. There’s fear in their eyes. I’ve also been through this several times. You often feel like the world is watching your every move. What I’ve learned is that no one cares about what you’re doing cause they are too busy with themselves. So don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ll eventually pick up the steps but we all start from somewhere.
6) Baby steps! If you’ve spent most of your life eating the same things, going to the same places and avoiding anything and everything that’s new, you might want to start off small. Maybe you might try eating at an ethnic restaurant or taking a class with a friend, that way the experience won’t seem too overwhelming. Start off small and with time you’ll be a novice expert like me!
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