Try this 'Mindset' change to make the most of life....

If you are like me, you understand what it is to be Type A - the over-prepared, semi-anxious individual who has jitters in their stomach every time they are about to try something new. Don't get me wrong, preparing for something important is extremely important to be able to perform at your best while being totally confident. But 'let me at least try this our' mindset is a sure shot way to get you started on something that maybe new, unexplored and challenging.

Everything I write about is from my own experiences, unless its a research based article for which relevant references are provided. This article has been inspired from some unexpected endeavors I have taken up recently. When the pandemic struck us in 2020, I was asked if I could conduct dance classes for a new online platform specializing in performing & non-performing art education. My initial reaction was to say 'NO' because like any normal person, my mind was drawn to the challenges and shortcomings this opportunity would expose me to. The only thoughts that flooded my mind were, 'How will I find time?', 'What did these people see in me to offer me this opportunity?', 'Am I really going to be able to pull this off?'. But something in me also screamed 'At least give it a chance?, It's not everyday that you get to share your passion with some one else'. That's exactly how I conveyed it to the platform that approached me. I told them that I was really excited about the opportunity to teach dancing, however, I would like a pilot run before we actually executed the whole idea. They were generous enough and we had a pilot program that fetched an amazing response and we went on to conduct regular, planned classes that were in line with my schedule. Today a year later, I continue to teach dance to different age groups and walks of life & it is one of the most fulfilling experiences I have had in a while. My simple approach of 'At least trying it out' worked and teaching dance has been a learning curve (more on that in another article) & I continue to apply my lessons from there into my life.

The mindset we are talking about also resonates with the phrase 'taking the plunge', however, here I am discussing small and important, however, not extreme decision making. The consequences of these small steps can be positively life changing too but they aren't as life defining as abruptly quitting a job to pursue a passion or making a huge buy on impulse. The 'at least give it a chance' mindset is for those small, scary decisions that you have been running away from, such as enrolling for that music class that has always interested you, starting to prepare for a marathon, trying out that workout you were always afraid to try out. Not overthinking and just going for it works best for these small yet important moments.

These times prepare us for the tougher, more challenging situations where 'CONFIDENCE' is an important trait. Making these small decisions improve confidence levels and this is one of the most underrated but extremely important aspect of leading a life that's holistic and ever evolving.

I am currently doing a fitness program that requires me to surpass my own limitations every single day and honestly, only 'at least try it out' mindset is what pushed me to show up every single day and helps me realise that I am more than my self-limiting thoughts, I am more than what my doubtful self estimated me to be. I can handle a lot more than I thought I could. And as mentioned in Leveraging On The Ripple Effect , every time you do well in one part of your life, it starts to reflect in other areas too.

The confidence of being 'unstoppable' and 'capable' infiltrates every other part of life and makes me a more content person each day.

So next time you are faced with a decision to try something new, challenging and exciting, just apply the 'Let Me At Least Try This Out' mindset & tell me if that helps.