6 Reasons to Try the Thing

A few weeks ago I went to my first improv comedy class.

Before going I was uncertain if I’d made a good decision about signing up. I wondered if I’d made a mistake.

It’s a hike to get to class. It turned out the class started later than presented, which meant the late night I was already bracing for would be even later. And I was also a little nervous (would I like it? would the people be nice? could I do it?), like I always am when I try something new.

The day of the first class arrived. I mapped out my travel plan, left over an hour before class, and managed a metro to bus transfer to get to class on time. First hurdle cleared!

I found my classmates waiting outside and started chatting with a few of them.

We went into the classroom, and my teacher did a great job of creating a safe and kind classroom environment. We played some silly games and laughed a bunch. Then I caught a ride home with a woman who recognized me from a ballroom dance class.

I had so much fun with the whole experience that I had trouble winding down to go to sleep.

And it was all totally worth it.

Improv class is now one of the highlights of my week. I’ve made new friends. I laugh a ton. And my comedic part is having a ball spending time in an environment where being a goofball is celebrated and encouraged.

Do you have an activity (or, ahem, event) that you’ve been thinking about trying?

Maybe you’ve been having some of the same worries that most people have when they try something new.

You might be wondering if the people will be nice, if it will be worth the time or expense, or if you’ll enjoy it. You might feel nervous with trying something new, worried about the commute or the energy hit something will take. And you might not be sure if it’s okay to go somewhere where you don’t know anyone.

Here are six reasons to do the thing anyway.

1. Adults in Public Settings Are Usually Kind
My hunch is a lot of social anxiety stems from painful social experiences we’ve had with other kids when we were young.

Adults are so much kinder than children!!! Adults who sign up for a group activity have already demonstrated a fair amount of planning and follow through. They’re usually good people who are similarly looking to enjoy whatever you’re doing and make new connections.

Additionally, facilitators of group activities are generally attuned to the normal nerves people have around trying something new and typically help with welcoming everyone into the space. It's normal not to know anyone when you first go to an activity. Most people don't know anyone!

2. You Might Like It! (Or You'll Learn Something)
Not everything is a winner, but you might hit on something that brings you a lot of joy. And that’s a wonderful thing to find.

Know that sometimes doing fun things can actually fill your cup, introduce some excitement and novelty into your life, and energize you. While you may have to push yourself to get out there, you'll likely find a payoff for your effort. 

Before trying improv, I took a swing (ha!) at golf. It didn’t really land for me, and I wound up not attending some of my classes. Finding out what you don’t enjoy is just as valuable as learning what you do like.

3. You Might Make a New Friend (or Friend Group)
Sometimes this happens right away and sometimes it takes some time to get to know folks, but if you’re showing up over time and being friendly you will likely make a friend. A lot of people are attending things with a side goal of increasing their connection in life.

Maybe the people in your activity want to get together and do some other stuff together as a group. This is a win! One sailing instructor I know described taking up sailing, making a bunch of friends, and now he vacations with them to cool sailing spots around the world. Life changing!

4. You Might Learn More About Who You Are
Maybe you never realized a particular interest or quality in yourself until you started acting on the things that you like.

I've been laughing at myself as I’ve been making vacation choices as a single person this year. I picked two meditation retreats, a writer’s retreat, and a yoga retreat. Soooo apparently I like retreats! Noted.

Maybe you learn that you keep picking intellectual pursuits or activities that involve yarn or anything that gets you outside and moving.

Learning your preferences means you can advocate for them as you go through life. It also helps you to know what to choose to do with your free time.

5. The More You Do It The More You’ll Get the Hang of it
You’ll get the hang of the specific activity you’re doing, but you’ll also get the hang of getting out of your comfort zone and trying something new. Both are useful skills to develop!

Don't worry if you aren't good at something from day one. Just keep showing up and trying. You'll naturally learn and get better at it over time.

6. People Might Show You a Whole New Level of Treatment
I have loved the times in my hobbies where there’s particular care or consideration shown in the environment or amongst the participants.

I genuinely feel that my level of expectation for how I want to be treated has risen through the example of the kind people that I’ve been around through my hobbies.

There you have it! Six good reasons to do the thing you've been on the fence about doing.

This piece is meant to be blanket encouragement for you to get out into the world and in communities of people who enjoy things that you enjoy. It will make your life better! If you've been meaning to sign up for that drawing class or been wondering if you might like axe throwing or you'd just like to break out of some of your routine - go for it! It's never the perfect time, but now is a good time to get started.

And, if one of the things you enjoy is personal development, then please give a Clarity Retreat a try! This is a fun, outdoors, supportive event facilitated by an experienced life coach (that’s me!). These are currently small group events, so you’ll get lots of support and attention.

Learn more and register here. Registration is closing, so grab your spot today!