When things are going badly or the pressure from work or life in general gets to be too much, the tendency can be to stay in the area we know well and where we feel safe. After all, why take on more risk and brave the fear of the unknown, when coping with everything that’s currently on your plate is more than enough – and can leave you feeling drained at the end of each day?
For me, the answer lies in the dopamine reward which comes from your brain when you try something new. This year I have been consistently trying new things since January, and I can honestly say the difference it has made to my outlook on life has been game-changing. Not just for me personally but also, importantly, for loved ones, family, friends and clients alike.
A chance to marvel
In May, my wife and I took a month off and travelled by car around Spain and France. We took in the Basque country and the Pyrenees – two areas I had heard a great deal about but never once visited. Studying French as a teenager, I had been captivated by the exciting descriptions of life in Biarritz with its diverse culture, natural beauty, amazing climate and pastimes with exotic names like pétanque and pelota. Sadly, I didn’t get to see any sport whilst we were there, not even a game of rugby, although Bordeaux was visiting Bayonne that day. Of course, that didn’t matter as I still got the chance to marvel at the medieval architecture of the city and sample some of the unique cuisine in one of the many delightful restaurants. It was indeed a red-letter day as we arrived there fresh from a visit to the world-famous Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, who’s building alone is enough to impress upon any visitor how remarkably different the culture is in that part of Europe.
Speaking out
The other area I’ve explored anew this year has been public speaking – at business events or functions of one kind or another. Ably assisted and supported by fellow members of the Chester Speaking Club, I’ve worked on ‘raising my game’, which has required me to go further out of my comfort zone and tackle a wider array of topics. This in itself has provided me with fresh impetus. Encouraged to respond to back-to-basics questions like ‘what is it that truly makes you come alive?’, I’ve found new pleasure in speaking publicly. This in turn, has enabled me to fire up my audience to help them to access my content and insights. Clearly the main aim of both Jeff Hardman and Barnhill Consulting, when all’s said and done…
Conquering fears
I may be a long way off getting a call for a TV appearance yet, but in terms of extra energy released by conquering fears built up irrationally over many years, the process of going for an increase in number of new experiences has been a revelation! What’s more, I’m achieving this at a time of life when new experiences can seem daunting, and revelations appear to be thin on the ground. So why not buck that trend – and in the process make life richer for yourself and those around you!