A few days ago, I played sand volleyball for the first time. Because it was my first time, and I was playing with people who I didn’t know that well, I was super nervous going in. What if I sucked at it? What if they could tell I sucked at it? Worst of all, what if they excelled at it while I made a complete fool of myself? This was in no way supposed to be competitive or nerve-wracking, as it was just a fun social for one of the organizations I’m in. Yet, I couldn’t stop these thoughts from taking place. And for the first few minutes of the game, I was so terrified that I was going to embarrass myself by playing badly, that I didn’t try at all.
However, after a few minutes of playing, I let go of any fear I had and contributed to the game in the way it was meant to be enjoyed. By the end of it, I had so much fun that I forgot how much I had first dreaded coming to play.
The fear of not excelling at any hobby I attempt, any sport I play, or any subject I study has held me back from countless opportunities and experiences. However, one key lesson I’ve learned is that I’ll never know how something will turn out unless I give it a try. For example, if I wanted to learn a new language, I wouldn’t know whether I’d struggle to grasp only the basics or, on the flip side, whether I’d pick it up so well that people might mistake it for my first language—unless I actually tried.
Yes, failure might sound like a horrible outcome when trying something new. But failure is also the only way to move forward. If you never try anything new, you’ll never step outside your comfort zone or open yourself up to new experiences. The worst that can happen is realizing that whatever you were trying just isn’t for you. The best that can happen is discovering it’s your true calling. Or maybe neither happens, and it simply turns into a fun hobby. But you’ll never know until you try.
Of course, like most things, this is easier said than done. So start small—make simple changes to your routine and build from there. Once you begin to see the outcomes of trying something new, you’ll realize it can be far less intimidating than you initially thought.