Five Reasons Why Trying Something New Will Change Your Life

by Allan Karl

I just finished a conversation with a good friend and fellow writer — a great writer, in fact. I quickly learned as we chatted that she was feeling empty, at a loss for creative ideas. “I’m just not motivated,” she admitted. “I don’t want to do anything,” she said, “let alone write.”

Taken back by our conversation, I remembered a similar chat just last week. Another friend, a stellar sales star for a high-performance tech firm, complained that while he was happy and his current customer list kept him busy and financially satisfied, he lacked the drive and desire to find new business. He’d even put off following up on qualified referrals and leads. “I’m just not motivated,” he revealed. “I think I’m getting lazy.”

The same words. “I’m just not motivated.”

Both of my friends are successful, serve as mentors, and are active in nonprofits and peer-group masterminds. Yet they both seek new ideas, motivation, and direction.

There are four reasons that this “not motivated” syndrome sets in. It’s easy to recognize, and easier to fix — get past.

Four Reasons Why People Lack or Lose Motivation

They lack challenge. Work and their daily routine put them in a life of automation: doing the same things over and over. Lack of motivation stems from boredom and lack of stimulation.
They are too comfortable. Getting caught in their own comfort zone, complacent by their surroundings, and, more or less, relaxed lifestyle. They resist change and find safety in familiarity. There is no drive, and therefore no motivation.
They are not interested in what they are doing. For people steeped in a career that serves a decent balance of social and financial satisfaction but doesn’t provide the intellectual stimulation or passion, they quickly lose interest and cannot be bothered or motivated to do anything beyond basic expectations.
They are unhappy and lack joy, and yet they cannot recognize or address why. Any of the three reasons above can be an indirect source of unhappiness. Understanding this isn’t very easy.

If you lack motivation and drive, it’s time to reset your creativity, fire up your synapses, and turn yourself around. You can do this only by trying something new — different.

Why Doing Something New Changes Lives and Brings Joy

When we try something new, such as learning a new skill, we challenge our brains and bodies. Once stagnant or under-used, we shock our neurotransmitters and muscles and put them to use. Our bodies and minds thrive on the attention, and we feel better as we put them into practice.
Trying something new changes our perspective and allows us to see things differently. When we see things differently, we see things we previously missed or ignored. This allows us to see new possibilities.
Trying new things, especially things that we once were afraid of trying, helps us step outside our comfort zone. Once outside of our comfort zone, we can feel, see, and recognize opportunities.
Trying something new helps us break the monotony of routine and change our biorhythm — jolting and stimulating us intellectually, emotionally, and physically.
If we maintain a habit of trying new things, we progress and learn to be more open — open to change, new experiences, and new possibilities.

So 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.

Just as I prepared to post this article, my niece Emily, who to prepare for her first day of college, took part in a “get to know your classmates” freshman adventure last week. She was apprehensive when she learned this would be a secret destination. When she got there and discovered it was a “sleep under the stars camping trip” along the Appalachian Trail in Maine. This was a big leap of faith for her. While this trip took her far outside her comfort zone — her home — but this experience opened her eyes. Emily’s Instagram caption and the photo is timely and relevant.