During our recent SoulBody monthly meeting, I was inspired by our conversation. A few of us shared our experiences over the summer of trying something new and how this can be scary and overwhelming! We discussed that facing a new challenge can at times feel messy. But it made me realize that there are so many positive sides of stepping out of your comfort zone. No one wants to feel uncomfortable in a new experience, but it can pay off to be in this position to see where it leads you in life.

So here’s a question I want you to ask yourself, what is “something new” you will try? The next time someone asks you “What’s new?” be ready to answer them with passion and excitement!

Trying new things is very important to our well-being. There is a dedicated term for the desire to have new experiences: neophilia. Neophilia is a predictor of longevity because it turns out that people who seek out new experiences live healthier and happier lives.

Your usual repetitive routine literally zaps the life out of your existence and is not healthy. This fall is the time to try something new. Believe it or not, the more new and fun things you do, the more fulfilling and satisfying your life becomes.

Time to get motivated and recharge your creativity. It will change your life with the following benefits:

1. Gain New Talents and Skills

When you try something new, you’re likely to learn a new skill because of it. Even if you only try that new thing once, you’ll likely be using skills that you haven’t focused on practicing before.

**Lyndsay Syverson**
*Director of Trainings and Operations*

2. Gain Valuable Experience

Trying new things can be hard, but learning to adapt to new situations allows you to better adapt to the difficult situations that arise in your life.

3. Gain Unique Perspective

Your new experiences as you try new activities can help you look at the world differently. Everyone has their own perspective on life, and that perspective is influenced by the things we love and do.

4. Gain Confidence and Happiness

If nothing else, trying new things should bring you JOY! Have fun while you try new things. Even if you find you don’t want to try that new thing again, at least you will have created a happy memory for yourself and be proud you took the leap.

I want you to forget about the reasons why you shouldn't do these new things. There are always reasons to not do something. You have to push through this mental obstacle, because you will never know your capabilities if you do not try.

Face the unknown and step up the challenge. There is sincere happiness when we achieve a feat on our own. Plus, when you try something new, you learn a little something about yourself, I know I have.

Find your Creative Spark