How many times a week do you repeat the same activities, have the same conversations and complete the same tasks? How many times a week do you try something completely different and new? How often do you throw yourself outside of your comfort zone?
Most busy people tend to find themselves getting into an unbreakable, boring routine with very little change. Living life on the edge and having new experiences is important, yet most people find little time or make little effort. With these three tips, you can stop the excuses and start adding more excitement to your life.
Tip No. 1 — Stop Saying No.
When toddlers are first learning how to talk, many parenting books advise parents to refrain from using the word “no” in front of their children. Young children, especially in their “terrible 2’s” will hear the word and start saying “no” all the time. Although the terrible 2’s are long past, many adults use this word in their vocabulary without even noticing it.
When you say “no,” you immediately cut yourself off from new experiences, meeting different people and the enjoyment of living life spontaneously. “No” has a negative and unexciting connotation. Using this word frequently may cause others to stop asking you to try new things because they know that you will automatically write them off with a “no.” Instead of immediately saying no when someone asks you to join an activity or try something new, start saying “yes” more often.
I’m not saying you have to become Jim Carey in “Yes Man,” but just try making “yes” a staple in your vocabulary. How many times do you say “no” in a day? Try a little experiment and count how many times in a day you say “no,” Then, for every two times you say no, try making up for it by saying yes. By simply saying yes more often, you will automatically attract more exciting opportunities into your life. To recap: For every two no’s, there must be a yes.
Tip No. 2 — Stop Making Excuses.
OK, I get it: We are very busy, and there never seems to be enough hours in the day to finish tasks. If you constantly hide behind the shield of “I’m too busy” or “I can’t, I don’t have time,” how are you ever going to meet new people and try new things?
When you have a demanding schedule and lead a busy life, it is very easy to fall into a monotonous pattern and hide behind the “I’m Busy” shield. When you put up this shield, you completely cut yourself off from opportunities and excitement. If you are actually so busy to the point where you cannot make any room for change, perhaps you need to reevaluate your schedule. We are not machines built to move from task to task — something has got to give.
Although some people actually do lead incredibly overbooked lifestyles, most of us do not, and we use our busy shield as an excuse. In fact, many times we are in denial about our busyness, and we end up tricking ourselves into thinking we are far busier. This sense of denial builds the shield and blocks all spontaneity. Disarm the denial and take the “shield free” challenge. Stop hiding behind your excuses, and start living more.
Tip No. 3 — See the Opportunity in the Unknown.
We have all heard FDR’s famous inaugural quote, “We have nothing to fear but fear itself”… but really! Often times we hold ourselves back or place ourselves in a box because we fear the unknown. When you live in a cloud of fear and uncertainty, you will never live life to the fullest.
Instead of fearing the future and fearing change, see it as an opportunity for growth and excitement. Living a repetitive and monotonous lifestyle breeds boredom and burn out. However, when you try something new every week, it keeps you on your feet seeking more excitement. When you break down the fortress of fear, you will see the thrill and enjoyment in new activities.
