27 - New Year; New You?
A lot of people use the start of a new year to consider a change in their lives. Sometimes these changes are manageable, or low consequence - things like trying to spend more time with your pet, planning your next vacation, or exploring how to volunteer in your neighborhood and improve your community. They can also be things carrying a bit more gravity, like changing a career, opening a new business, or even finding a new faith.
All of these are worthwhile things to explore, each a journey that takes us to new places. They are a great way to implement the Keystones in your daily life. The Fourth Keystone - to Endeavor to learn new things and be educated by others; even the Fifth Keystone - to Seek and follow your calling in life. Our minds love the novelty provided by these new experiences. But our bodies and our nervous system (for the scientists, our limbic system) does not respond well to an excess of novelty. This sounds confusing, but you can easily confirm this for yourself: think about the last time you were in a restaurant, and the menu you were looking at was way too big. Did this make the decision easier, or did you feel paralyzed by choice?
We, mere humans, are not yet at the stage where we can have unlimited processing power to grok all options and handle an overwhelming influx of new things. This is why we must remember the First Keystone in all these endeavors: Strive to be efficient, competent, and autonomous. Efficiency, here, calls for moderation, and a calculated approach.
While there is something to be said for diving in headfirst into a new experience, if the goal is to give something a genuine try and achieve long term success, consider these six points before you jump with both feet.
I. Can it be done?
Think about whether the goal is realistic. Certainly, it would lead to a desirable outcome, but can you succeed on a practical level? Wasting your effort and your belief is an inefficient endeavor.
II. Does it look familiar?
For best results, we should start with things we are familiar with. Expanding from those, into new things, is the best way to succeed. Start from a place of knowledge, from comfort, and from there breach into the new. The science appears to show that best results are reached when we start with as little as 5-15% new content. This means at least 85% of your starting point is already familiar!
III. Does it align with who you are and who you want to be?
This is an extrapolation of the last point - you want to grow, to reach new points in space. The start still has to be based on something you know, and something you are: your current identity and your values. This is one that requires some introspection, as not all of our values are outward - some are closely guarded, internal things we do not discuss with others.
IV. Is it worth it?
This can be as simple as financial arithmetic, and as complex as weighing out the potential gains from the costs of time and effort you are putting in. In either case, it is incumbent on you to ensure the numbers add up.
V. Why are you growing?
When looking outward, consider your motivation for moving towards your goal. This too requires some introspection, and here you can lean on your friends, family and community. Ask the folks around you to share why they enjoy your company and your friendship - what do you bring to the table for them. The most candid answers will lead you to the why, and allow you to get closer to the Fifth Keystone - to Seek and follow your calling in life.
